The Frog and the Ox
Part 1: The Littlest Frog and the Biggest Ox
Splash! Plop! Ribbit! The frogs of Willow Pond loved to play. There was a big, old frog with a booming voice, some sleek, speedy frogs who loved to race, and even a few grumpy frogs who liked to hide under the lily pads all day. But everyone’s favorite was the littlest frog of all. He had big, curious eyes and an even bigger heart.
One bright summer day, the littlest frog hopped to the very edge of the pond to peek at the wide world beyond. That’s when he saw it…something HUGE. It had four giant legs, a long tail, and two sharp horns on its head. It was the biggest creature the littlest frog had ever seen!
“Moooo!” bellowed the creature in a deep voice.
The littlest frog scrambled back to his family, his tiny heart thumping. “I saw a monster!” he squeaked. “It was as big as a tree!”
Part 2: A Puffed-Up Papa
The other frogs gathered around, their eyes wide. The big, old frog with the booming voice let out a hearty laugh. “A monster? Nonsense! That was just an ox. They’re big, but harmless. And besides,” he puffed out his chest proudly, “I can be just as big if I want to be!”
The littlest frog watched in amazement as his Papa started to swell. He puffed and puffed until he looked like a giant green balloon.
“Am I as big as the ox?” he croaked.
“Bigger!” cried all the other frogs.
But the littlest frog was worried. He could tell something wasn’t right. Even though his Papa looked huge, he didn’t look strong like the ox.
Part 3: A Lesson in Being Yourself
The littlest frog opened his mouth to warn his Papa, but it was too late! With a loud POP, Papa frog exploded, sending bits of green into the air. Everyone gasped. The littlest frog felt tears well up in his eyes.
Then, a funny thing happened. All the frogs started to laugh! Even the grumpy ones let out a chuckle. After all, a puffed-up, exploding frog was quite a sight to see!
The littlest frog, still sad about his Papa, realized something important. Everyone makes mistakes. And sometimes, the silliest mistakes can lead to the biggest laughs. But more importantly, he learned it’s okay to be small – because even the littlest frog has his own special place in the world.
Part 3: A Valuable Lesson
Sometimes, we get jealous of others and want to be just like them. But it’s important to remember to be happy with who we are. Trying to be something we’re not can lead to trouble – or worse! Being small has its own advantages too. The little frog decided to love his life just the way it was. And he knew he’d never try to be as big as an ox again.
Read More: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
