As a teacher I always felt that storytelling was a unique way of planting positive seeds in young minds. So whenever possible I narrated my favourite inspirational stories for children to them hoping that they would change. Here are a few of them.
Storytelling is a very old form of teaching children. Our older generations indulged in it to pass on precious traditions, knowledge and values to the younger generations.
As a teacher I always felt that storytelling was a unique way of planting positive seeds in young minds. It is a blessed tool considering that in today’s educational environment teachers have limited options for disciplining students for fear of lawsuits.
The large numbers in each class, the vast curriculum, short study periods, the constant emphasis on tests and assessment, preoccupation with competition and the consequent hectic pace are not conducive to the development of desirable attitudes and traits.
The inclination towards bad is more than that towards good. In every successive class I taught, there would be a handful children inclined towards all kinds of disruptive behavior like fighting, teasing, pushing, cheating, bullying.
It was disheartening and worrying for me. I felt responsible for their bad behaviour. So whenever possible I narrated inspirational stories to my students hoping that they would change.
Now I present to you three of the many inspirational stories for children that I narrated. They were my favourites.
Gift of Understanding
I discovered this early twentieth century story in an old Reader’s Digest that was passed on to us by a friend. It is beautiful and touching. It is a true story from the life of the writer himself though I don’t remember his name. In my narration I will refer to him as Jamie.
Jamie was just four years old and lived in England. He loved going to Mr. Wigden’s sweet shop which was just two streets away from his house.
Whenever he passed the shop he would gaze rapturously at the display. There was an array of delicious temptations. It became a regular routine for his mother to take him to the shop for a special treat.
Mr. Wigden was a very old man. His head was topped with a cloud of fine snow-white hair. Whenever he heard the tinkle of the bell attached to his front door Mr. Wigden quietly appeared, to take his stand behind the counter.
It was painful for Jamie to make a choice because each sweet seemed equally tempting. Most often Mother chose something for him and paid Mr. Wigden.
Jamie knew nothing of money at that time. He would watch his mother hand something to the shop keepers who would then hand her a package. Slowly the idea of exchange percolated into his mind.
One day Jamie decided he would walk to Mr. Wigden’s all alone. He remembered the tinkle of the bell as he entered the shop. He was enthralled as he walked to the display counter.
There were spearmint leaves, great big gumdrops, coloured jelly-babies, hard dark brown covered nuts and what not. He picked out a promising assortment and so eventually several white paper bags were standing on the counter.
Mr. Wigden leaned over and asked, “You have the money to pay for all these?” “Oh, yes,” Jamie replied, “I have lots of money.”
He reached out his fist and into Mr. Wigden’s open hand he dumped half a dozen cherry stones/seeds carefully wrapped in silver paper.
Mr. Wigden stood gazing at the palm of his hand; then he looked searchingly at Jamie for a long moment.
“Isn’t it enough?” Jamie asked anxiously.
Mr. Wigden sighed gently and answered, “I think it is a bit too much.” He opened his drawer and dropped two coins into Jamie’s hand.
Jamie grew older and he didn’t remember using cherry stones a second time. Soon the episode was forgotten.
When Jamie was seven years old the family moved to another town. He grew up there and eventually married. He and his wife opened up a shop where they bred and sold tropical fish. The fish were imported from Africa and South America and most species cost more than five dollars a pair (in the early 20th century).
One sunny afternoon a little girl came into the shop accompanied by her brother. They were perhaps five and six years old. They stood with wide, round eyes, staring at the beauties swimming in the water.
“Gosh,” exclaimed the boy, “can we buy them?”
“Yes, if you can pay for them.” replied Jamie.
“Oh, we have lots of money”, the girl said confidently. Something in the way she spoke gave Jamie an odd feeling of familiarity. The two made Jamie pack several different kinds of fish.
“Carry them carefully.” Jamie cautioned. The boy nodded and turned to his sister. “You pay him.” he said. As she held out her clenched fist, Jamie suddenly knew exactly what was going to happen, even what the little girl was going to say. Her fist opened and she dumped three small coins.
In that instant Jamie sensed the impact of Mr. Wigden’s generosity years ago. Only then did he recognize the challenge he had presented to Mr. Wigden and how wonderfully he had met it. He understood the innocence of the two children and his power to preserve or destroy that innocence. He was so filled with the memory of kind Mr. Wigden that his throat ached.
“Isn’t it enough?” the girl asked in a small voice.
“It is a little too much”, he managed to say with a lump in his throat.
He took out two small coins from his drawer and dropped them into the girl’s palm. Then he stood in the doorway, watching the children walk away.
When he went back into the shop, his wife asked “Do you know that you have given away 30 dollars worth of fish, free of cost?” “But I couldn’t have done anything else.” He responded.
He told her about Mr. Wigden and her eyes were wet when he finished his story.
This inspirational story for children portrays the need for kindness, understanding and empathy. They cannot be learnt from books but through people who show it and cause ripples of positivity.
Lawrence Lemieux- the Olympian who gave up his dreams of winning the gold medal to save a life
Lawrence Limieux was a Canadian and loved sailing. He was the 5th ranked sailor in the world in 1978. In 1980 he became the 3rd ranked sailor.
Later in 1981 he was faring well in the 5th of a series of Olympic boat races. He was 32 yrs old and a contender for the gold medal.
As he made his way through the churning seas and faced the difficult winds he saw a capsized vessel off the coast of Seoul, Korea. One crew member was sitting on the upturned boat. The other crew member was swimming, struggling to reach the boat.
Limieux deviated his course to assist the two Singaporean participants in the race. He took them aboard his single person craft at his own risk. Then he waited for rescue sailors to come and take them back to the shore.
Thus Limieux dropped out of the race. He lost his chance for a gold medal but people all over the world lauded him. He had chosen to help a human being though his individual glory was at stake.
The International Olympic Committee awarded him the prestigious medal for true sportsmanship, self sacrifice and courage (Pierre de Coubertin Medal).
He cared more for human life than for the gold medal. He did the right thing but a difficult thing.
Isn’t it a heartwarming story? Through this story I hoped my students would understand that it was more important to be caring and humane than to win. I hoped they would see Limieux as a hero and be inspired to show compassion, cooperation and nobility like him.
Healing Solitude
It is taken from a book, TONIC FOR THE HEART – by Rev. Frank Mihalic. It is a collection of inspirational stories.
A twelve year old girl Elissa was waiting for her friend Juanita to come over for a morning together. When Juanita did not turn up Elissa began fretting and complaining.
She became rather obnoxious to everyone else in the house. Finally her father ordered her to get into the car with a book, a blanket and an apple.
He drove to a canyon area, eight miles from home, and said, “Now get out. We cannot stand you any longer at home. You aren’t fit to stay with us. Just stay out by yourself today and think. I’ll come back for you this evening.”
Elissa was defiant and frustrated but got out. She was dumped and was furious. It is hard to keep up a rebellious behavior with no audience. So she just sat and kicked the dirt. She threw the apple, the book and the blanket down the canyon ledge.
After a few hours she was hungry. So she climbed down the ledge and retrieved the apple and also the book and the blanket.
As she climbed back she noticed a tree that was so lovely and full. She spread her blanket under its shade, used the book as a pillow and began eating the apple.
As she looked up at the sky, a great sense of peace and beauty came to her. She felt Mother Nature was comforting her. She began to think of God too.
She began to see her behavior in a new light and realized her mistakes. By the time her father returned her attitude had changed. He had dumped her and challenged her to think. From that day she began to love nature and solitude.
Doesn’t this story give direction? It shows children that only when they dismiss the crowds and all the noise and busyness of life are they able to reflect on their behaviour and understand their faults. Nature and solitude help in knowing right from wrong, not mobiles or computers.
Dr Maria Montessori the well known educationist believed that in order to develop virtues, children should be exposed to stories and experiences that model them. This builds their character and results in the betterment of society.
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Hi! My name is Rubitah. I’m a Content Writer certified Life Coach, Counselor, Social Work professional and the Founder of Being Rubitah. Over the years through my professional and personal life, I have realized that prayers and love can do wonders to family life once you come to terms with yourself and surrender to God. Do you relate to me? Then you may like what I post here! Read more about me
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