There were two brothers Johnny and Mike. Mike was the youngest and had limits on

where he could play and ride his bike. Johnny could go anywhere. One day Mike

decided to ride his bike outside of the area he was allowed to play and ride. He

rode over a piece of wood with a nail in it and quickly his front tire was flat.

What was he going to do? What would he tell his parents? He quickly walked his bike

home and was about to hide it in the garage when his big brother Johnny walked up

behind him and asked him what was wrong. Johnny looked at the bike and said I can

fix that really fast and have you riding in no time. Mike was relieved and very

happy. Johnny said you must have ridden your bike in the new section of the

neighborhood where they are building houses and picked up a nail. Mike was starting

to get nervous. He pleaded with Johnny not to tell their parents where he had been.

He told Johnny he would pay him back if he would fix the flat and not tell their

parents. Johnny just laughed and said he would fix the flat. He said there was no

way Mike could pay him back.

Two months passed and Mike was playing video games in his room when suddenly Johnny

was at his bedroom door. Johnny looked scared and he asked Mike to help him. Johnny

said he was washing his hands in the sink when his new class ring fell down the

drain. He could see it, but he couldn’t reach it. Mike said sure he would help.

Mike’s hands were much smaller and his fingers were slimmer and longer than

Johnny’s. Mike carefully reached into the drain and pulled out Johnny’s shiny class

ring. Johnny was so happy. Mike reminded Johnny that even the youngest can pay back

a favor.

Actions done with kindness, no matter how small, make a big difference.

One beautiful spring day, Ruby Robin and Rosy Squirrel decided it was time to find a

new home. They took a walk together through the woods, past a field of lovely yellow

flowers to a tree near the creek. Along the way, Ruby and Rosy discussed how they

needed more space now their families had grown and how they needed a place that

would be safe for their babies to play and they wouldn’t have to go far for food.

They also agreed on having a place with a beautiful view.

Ruby and Rosy stopped at a large oak tree near the bank of the creek. It was tall

with large, strong branches and a tree hollow just the right size for a family of

squirrels. The view was beautiful in all directions. Ruby and Rosy stopped and

looked at the tree and said how useless the tree could be.

The oak tree heard them while they were climbing the tree and said it provides

protection to all who live among his mighty branches so far from the ground. The oak

tree also told them that it provides shade from summer’s scorching sun and cover

from the rain. Its hollows provide warmth and protection from fall and winter’s cold

winds and snow. It provides food with its acorns and worms in the ground near its

roots. The tree asked Rosy and Ruby what more can you thankless creatures ask for?

The oak tree was mad by now and it shook its great limbs and almost knocked Ruby and

Rosy from the tree. The oak tree sent them away.

Ruby and Rosy thought about what they said and what the tree told them and they went

back and told the oak tree they were sorry for calling it useless. The oak tree

forgave them and reminded Ruby and Rosy that every living thing has a purpose and is

worth more than gold.