Once upon a time, in a peaceful pond surrounded by tall grasses, there lived a turtle named Terry. Terry was a friendly turtle who loved to chat. He would spend his days swimming around the pond, talking to all the other animals. He talked about everything: the weather, the flowers, the fish, and even the clouds in the sky!
But there was one little problem—Terry talked too much. He didn’t know when to stop talking and often interrupted others when they were speaking. His friends started to get a little annoyed, but Terry didn’t notice. He was too busy talking about his latest thoughts and ideas.
One bright sunny day, all the animals in the pond gathered for a meeting. They were discussing an important matter: how to prepare for the coming rainy season. The birds were talking about where they would build their nests to stay dry, and the frogs were deciding where to hide when the pond got too deep. But as soon as Terry arrived, he started talking nonstop.
“Have you noticed how the sky is so blue today? I think it might rain soon. Or maybe it won’t! I’ve been thinking about all the best places to hide when the rain comes, and I have so many great ideas! Oh, and the other day, I saw a fish that was so big—much bigger than any fish I’ve ever seen. It was amazing!”
The other animals tried to listen, but Terry kept talking and talking, without letting anyone else say a word. They started to get frustrated.
Finally, the wise old owl, who had been sitting quietly at the top of a tree, spoke up.
“Terry,” the owl said gently, “you talk a lot, but sometimes, it’s important to listen more than to speak. When you talk too much, others can’t share their thoughts, and we miss out on what they have to say. There is a reason that God has given us two ears to listen while only 1 tongue to speak.”
Terry stopped and thought for a moment. “I never realized that,” he said. “I’ve just been so excited to share my thoughts with everyone.”
The owl smiled. “It’s good to share your ideas, but remember, listening is just as important. When we listen, we learn from each other and can work together more wisely.”
From that day on, Terry tried to speak less and listen more. He still shared his ideas, but he made sure to give others a chance to talk too. And to his surprise, when he listened carefully, he learned so many new things from his friends. The animals in the pond were much happier, and Terry became known as a wiser and more thoughtful turtle.
Moral of the Story
“It’s important to listen as much as you talk. When we speak too much, we may miss out on the wisdom and ideas of others.”