One of the best values that you can teach your children, is that of gratitude. Learning to be grateful and to value the efforts of other people is a fundamental lesson in the education of children. But this is not a simple matter of learning to say thank you. Children need to understand what gratitude means and how important it will be for the rest of their lives.
Through stories, we can teach children all kinds of lessons. In a simple way and that they can easily understand. This way you can instill in your children the value of gratitude through stories and fables millennia that have helped thousands of families around the world.
The white turtle
This story about gratitude is a traditional legend of Chinese culture.
Mao Pao was a 15-year-old boy living in China. Dwhen he was little he was preparing to be a warrior, so he loved to wear the appropriate attire for it. One day after training, he went to the Yellow River to cool off in its waters, took off his uniform and went into the water. While swimming, he came across a fisherman who he asked what he was doing in that river.
He replied that he was looking for something he could sell in the market. Suddenly, the fisherman jumped into the water for an animal and pulled out a small white turtle. The fisherman was euphoric with joy, because he wanted to sell that animal and get good money in the market. When Mao Pao approached, he saw the small eyes of the turtle and immediately took pity on her.
She asked the man to release her, but he refused as he needed the money. The young man, He gave him his clothes in exchange for the release of the turtle. He would keep a simple robe and thus, sealed the deal. To make sure nothing was wrong with her, he took her away. The young man left her in a pond and the turtle went away calmly swimming.
Fifty years passed and Mao Pao had become a courageous general and his people were experiencing times of war. During a losing battle, the warrior was left alone, abandoned by his troop and running away when he encountered the Yellow River his childhood. He thought that if he reached the other side he could save his life, but the river had a long channel and it seemed impossible.
Suddenly, Mao Pao saw a huge white shell approaching and when he reached it, that tortoise from his childhood poked its head out. Without thinking, He got on it and held on tightly, without problem the turtle took him to the other side from the river and thus saved his life.
The lion and the mouse, an Aesop fable
A lion was enjoying a nap when a little mouse began to play and tickle him by the body. The lion woke up and enraged he caught the mouse with the intention of eating it, but the little mouse managed to beg for mercy.
-Wait! Lion please don't eat me, I was just playing. If you let me go someday i will reward you somehowMaybe one day you will need my help.
The lion laughed, he thought that little mouse could never do anything for him, but as he was amused he let him go He spared his life and let the mouse go.
A few days later, hunters had placed a net near the lion's den. They put it on the branches of the trees so they could catch him without him noticing. With bad fortune, that the lion when passing through the trap was caught in the net.
The lion roared loudly while trying to escape, when by chance, the mouse heard the screams. He quickly walked over to see what was happening. Without thinking, he crawled onto the net and began gnawing on it until the lion could free himself from his trap. And so, that little mouse saved the life of the fierce lion, despite being much bigger and much stronger than him.