In an vast jungle a time ago lived an impressive lion named Leo who was well known as the king of the jungle—a fierce and mighty ruler feared by all other creatures, around him.
On an afternoon, with a stomach after a hearty meal Leo lay down beneath a trees cool shade and stretched out on muscular limbs before closing eyes to rest peacefully. As he started to drift off into sleep a tiny tingling sensation, on the tip of nose startled him awake. Opening one eye slowly he caught sight of a small brown mouse darting across paw.
The lion emitted a growling sound. Quickly trapped the small rodent beneath its heavy paw with a single movement of its body. “Why would you disturb my rest?” Leo roared loudly in a voice that echoed across the jungle. “Don’t you recognize me?”
Leo couldn’t help but snicker at the minuscule creature’s remarks. The notion of such a small, seemingly inconsequential animal being of any assistance to him seemed entirely absurd. “You? Help me? A monarch like me needs no assistance from a small rodent!” he scoffed. But something in the mouse’s fortitude and sincerity softened the lion’s heart.
“Very well,” Leo said, lifting his paw and letting the rodent go. “I’ll spare your life, little one. But recall, you owe me now.” The mouse nodded graciously, darting away and disappearing into the undergrowth. The lion quickly forgot the encounter, thinking it merely a comical moment in his day.
A few days later, as Leo was meandering near the border of the jungle, he inadvertently wandered into a snare set by hunters. With an abrupt crack, a large net collapsed over him, entangling him in its dense cords. He bellowed and struggled, but the more he resisted, the tighter the cords became. For the first time in his life, Leo felt a twinge of dread. He was genuinely confined, with no means to extricate himself.
Hearing his forceful roars reverberating through the jungle, the little rodent recognized the lion’s call. Remembering the lion’s act of mercy, the mouse scurried towards the sound, eventually finding Leo ensnared and defenseless.
The lion ceased struggling as he saw the mouse approaching, a look of surprise in his eyes. “Little friend, I don’t think you can do much here,” he said, feeling a pang of despair.
The rodent, however, was undeterred. “You were kind to me once, mighty Leo, and now it’s my turn to repay you.” Without another word, the mouse began gnawing at the thick ropes with its pointed teeth. Bit by bit, the mouse labored tirelessly, cutting through the firm strands. After what seemed like hours, the cords eventually split, and the net fell away.
Leo was liberated!
The lion gazed down at the mouse in astonishment and gratitude. He realized that the little creature he had once discarded as feeble and insignificant had indeed saved his life. “Thank you, dear friend,” Leo said with a humble inclination of his head. “Today, you have taught me that even the smallest among us can make a big difference.”
From that day on, Leo and the mouse shared an unbreakable bond, a friendship based on compassion, respect, and the understanding that even the mightiest may need an assisting hand someday.
Moral of the Story:
Kindness knows no size, and even the smallest friend can prove invaluable in times of need.
