Hi,
Good evening.
I'm Susan Guttridge,
And for tonight's bedtime story,
I'm going to read the story of the Wind and the Sun by Aesop's Fables.
It's a story that my mom used to read to me from a giant storybook that I still have to this day.
Take a moment to get cozy in your bed,
Dim the lights,
Give your body a stretch,
See if you can slow and deepen your breath,
Just relaxing,
Preparing your body for sleep.
Pull the sheets up around you so that it feels like you're wrapped in a gentle warm hug,
And when you're ready,
Keep your eyes just closed.
Aesop's Fables are a collection of stories,
And Aesop is thought to be a storyteller who lived a long time ago in ancient Greece.
Aesop's Fables often feature animals and nature,
And tend to impart a moral lesson.
A moral lesson is a special message that a story uses to teach about what it means to be kind.
These types of stories can help us learn and understand how to make decent choices,
Behave towards others and self with kindness,
And understand the difference between right and wrong.
And so,
Let's begin our story.
Once upon a time,
On a gentle,
Sunny day,
The sun and the wind were having a friendly conversation high above the earth.
The sky was a beautiful canvas of soft blues,
And fluffy white clouds drifted lazily across the horizon.
As they chatted,
The wind,
Feeling boastful,
Claimed that it was more powerful than the sun.
The sun,
With a serene,
Warm smile,
Replied that both had their own strengths and weaknesses,
Which made it hard to determine who was truly more powerful.
The wind,
Feeling a bit offended and eager to prove its strength,
Suggested a competition.
They both noticed a traveler walking along far down below on the earth's surface.
The traveler,
Walking through a beautiful park,
Surrounded by a lush,
Green landscape.
The traveler wore a cozy scarf and a snug jacket,
Enjoying the pleasant day.
The wind proposed to the sun that they see who could make the traveler take off his scarf and coat faster.
The sun,
So calm and composed,
Agreed,
Although the sun didn't really want to compete with the wind.
Nonetheless,
The wind began to blow gently at first,
Making the traveler's scarf and coat flutter like the leaves on the nearby trees.
The wind felt proud of its initial success,
And blew even harder and harder,
Trying to force the traveler to remove his scarf and coat.
The stronger the wind blew,
The tighter the traveler wrapped his scarf and coat around himself,
Shivering as the cold wind whipped around him.
The traveler,
Seeking refuge from the fierce gusts of wind,
Sat down on a park bench and tucked his coat in even tighter,
Zipping it all the way up to his chin.
The wind blew as hard as it could,
But eventually gave up,
Unable to make the traveler take off his scarf and jacket.
Now it was the sun's turn.
The sun turned from the wind to shine down on the traveler,
Smiling warmly.
Its gentle rays began to touch the traveler far down below them.
The warmth spread slowly like a comforting embrace.
The traveler seemed to relax on the bench,
Sitting back,
Beginning to tug down the zipper of his jacket.
The traveler felt the soothing heat,
And stood up to continue his journey,
No longer needing to battle with the wind.
As the sun shone even brighter,
The traveler began to feel pleasantly warm.
He loosened his scarf,
And fully unzipped his jacket,
And walking along the path,
He eventually took the jacket right off as he enjoyed the warmth of the sun's rays.
The wind watched in amazement as the sun won the competition with its gentle warmth instead of force.
The wind realized it had underestimated the power of gentleness,
Thinking only strength and force could make things happen.
To make the traveler feel better after their competition,
The sun continued to shine brightly,
And the wind blew softly,
Creating a perfect mild breeze.
In the park,
Way down beneath the sun and the wind,
The trees swayed gently,
The flowers in the field seemed to dance in the sunlight.
The traveler smiled,
Feeling happy and comfortable as he continued on his journey,
Surrounded by the serene beauty of nature.
And so,
My friend,
The moral of the story is that gentle persuasion can often achieve more than force.
Sometimes in life,
Being kind and patient is the best way to get things done.
As you drift off to sleep tonight,
Remember that kindness and warmth can create the most beautiful and peaceful moments for yourself and those around you.
Thank you for listening,
And sweet dreams to you.
Be well.
