A five minute story with object lessons for kids.
Once upon a time, in a cozy corner of a city park, there stood a wise old apple tree named Abigail. Her branches were strong, her blossoms were beautiful in springtime, her leaves were green in summer, and her apples were sweet and juicy in autumn. Every day, a young boy named Odi would visit Abigail and play in her shade. They would have delightful conversations, and the tree always enjoyed his company.
Living in Abigail’s branches was a kind mother bird named Nuha, who loved her family dearly. Nuha and Abigail were close friends, and they would talk about the park happenings of the day as the sun went down.
One sunny afternoon, Odi came to visit Abigail with a request, “Can I have some of your apples, dear friend?” Abigail, ever so generous, happily obliged, and Odi went home with a basket full of apples. The tree was pleased to have made the boy happy.

As time passed, Odi asked for more โ branches to build a fort, leaves for his art project, and even the bark of her trunk. Abigail was always focused on making Odi happy but had started to wonder about her purpose. Nuha, the mother bird, noticed this and reminded her, “Abigail, you are so much more than just your apples and branches. You provide shelter for my family, shade for tired park visitors, and beauty for the city to admire.โ
As the seasons changed and the leaves on Abigail’s branches turned from green to gold, Nuha and her nestlings would often be seen fluttering around the wise apple tree. The chirping of the young birds filled the air, and Abigail found joy in watching them grow.
One crisp autumn morning, Nuha perched on Abigail’s branch and said, “You know, Abigail, it’s okay to set boundaries and take care of yourself too. Your generosity is a gift, but it should not come at the cost of your own well-being.”
Abigail rustled her leaves in agreement, feeling the warmth of the sun on her bark. She knew that Nuha’s words held truth and wisdom.

One day, Odi asked for Abigail’s trunk to build a boat. The tree felt conflicted โ she wanted to help Odi, but she also knew that her trunk provided a sturdy home for Nuha and her nestlings. Nuha shared words of wisdom, “Abigail, remember that your worth is not just in what you give but in who you are. Perhaps you can find a fallen branch for Odi’s boat so that both your needs and his can be met.”
Abigail thought about Nuha’s words and realized that she could still be kind and generous while also valuing her own needs and those of her friends. When Odi arrived the next day, Abigail told him about a perfect large branch that had fallen during a wind storm. Odi was delighted and used the branch to build his boat. He thought about how the tree helped him and her birdie friends.”
Abigail, the wise apple tree, grew stronger and happier in her corner of the park. She realized that while helping friends is nice, itโs equally important to take care of herself. And so, Odi, Abigail, and Nuha continued spending time together, finding harmony in nature and cherishing their interconnectedness.

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