Category: Moral Stories

My friend was walking down a deserted Mexican beach at sunset. As he walked along, he began to

see another man in the distance. As he grew nearer, he noticed that the local native kept leaning

down, picking something up and throwing it out into the water. Time and again he kept hurling

things out into the ocean. As my friend approached even closer, he noticed that the man was

picking up starfish that had washed up on the beach, and, one at a time, he was throwing them

back into the water. My friend was puzzled.

He approached the man and said. “Good evening, friend. I was wondering what

you are doing.”

“I’m throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see its low tide right now

and all of these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If I don’t throw

them back into the sea, they’ll die up here from lack of oxygen.”

“I understand,” my friend replied, “but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can’t

possibly get to all of them. There are simply too many. And don’t you realize this is probably

happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast. Can’t you see that you can’t possibly

make a difference?”

The local native smiled, bent down and picked up yet another starfish, and as he threw it back into

the sea, he replied, “Made a difference to that one!”

Next autumn, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a “V” formation, you

might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings,

it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock

adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get

where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are traveling

on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and

resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to

take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have the

sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally – and this is important – when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of

the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and

protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do

they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among

themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he

determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for

this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

When they had done so, he placed the faggot into

the hands of each of them in succession, and

ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with

all their strength, and were not able to do it. He

next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and

again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them

easily.

He then addressed them in these words: “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each

other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are

divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”

In Union there is strength. Divided we fall; United we stand.

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a MBBS degree and passed PLAB to enter UK, the

land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the UK, it was as if a dream had come true. Here

at last I was in the place where I wanted to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for

about Five years (maximum Permit Free Period) in which time I would have earned enough money

to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was

a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick

and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap

international phone cards.

Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald’s and chicken legs in KFC and discos and 2

years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and

everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was

jubilant as I was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my relatives and friends back home.

If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through

all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get

anymore holidays soon and they cannot wait for long.

After the marriage, it was time to return to UK, after giving some money to my parents and telling

the neighbors to look after them, we (I was lucky and managed to get the visa of my wife early)

returned to UK.

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The

frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week as she also has to

call her parents. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids.

Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my

parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children. Every year I

decide to go to India.

But part work, part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a

distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried

but I couldn’t get any holidays and was stuck up in the procedures and thus could not go to India.

The next message I got was my parents were passed away and as there was no one to do the last

rites the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents passed away

without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children’s dislike (by now nearly cocos) and my

wife’s joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my

dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to

return to the UK. My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India.

My 2 children and I returned to UK after promising my wife I would be back for good after two

years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to a Scottish and my son was happy living in

Ireland. I decided that enough is enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had

just enough money to buy a decent Two-bed room flat in a well-developed locality. Now I am 60

years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby place of worship.

My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to

his name and I too have the same, nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM. Looking out from the window I

see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these

children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children

asking I am alright.

Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be

the neighbors again who will be performing my last rites,

God Bless them.

But the question still remains ‘was all this worth it?’

I am still searching for an answer….There are no unanswered

prayers…. At times the answer is NO.

A jobless man applied for the position of “office boy” at a very big firm.

The HR manager interviewed him, then a test: clean the floor. “You are hired” he said, give me

your email address, and I’ll send you the application to fill, as well as when you will start.

The man replied “I don’t have a computer, neither an email.”

I’m sorry, said the HR manager, if you don’t have an email that means you do not exist. And who

doesn’t exist, cannot have the job. The man left with no hope at all. He didn’t know what to do,

with only $10 US in his pocket.

He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10 KG tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes

in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the

operation 3 times, and returned home with $60 US. The man realized that he can survive by this

way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubles or triples every

day. Shortly later, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.

5 years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started to plan his family’s

future, and decided to have a life insurance.

He called an insurance broker, and chooses a protection plan. When the conversation was

concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied: “I don’t have an email.” The broker

replied curiously, you don’t have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an

empire. Do you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?

The man thought for a while, and replied: an office boy!

The moral of this story:

1: Internet is not the solution to your life.

2: If you don’t have internet and you work hard you can be a millionaire.

3: If you received this message by email, you are closer to be an office boy, rather than a

MILLIONAIRE.

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about

nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug

on his overalls. He looked down into the Eyes of a little boy.

“Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “these puppies come from

fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a

handful of change and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a

look?” “Sure,” said the farmer.

And with that he let out a whistle, “Here Dolly!” he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the

doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this One noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid.

Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its

best to catch up….

“I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that

puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs

would.”

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and

began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel

brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made

shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will

need someone who understands.”

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey

they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped

was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED

ME IN THE FACE.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to

take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and

started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered

from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “TODAY MY BEST

FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After

I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied: “When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of

forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it

in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Learn to write your hurts in the sand, and to carve your benefits in stone.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the

house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He

would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as

a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in

his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate

way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect

the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and

said, “This is your house… my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house,

he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the

building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built.

If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or

erect a wall. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude, and the choices you

make today, helps build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, build wisely!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are

not enough, remember the mayonnaise Jar…and the Coffee…

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items

in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a

very large and empty mayonnaise Jar and proceeded to fill it with

golf balls.

He then asked the students if the Jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked

up a box of pebbles and poured them into the Jar. He shook the Jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into

the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the Jar was full. They

agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the Jar. Of course, the sand filled up

everything else. He asked once more if the Jar was full. The students responded unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of Coffee from under the table and poured the entire

contents into the Jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this Jar

represents your life. The golf balls are the important things, your God, family, your children, your

health, your friends, and your favorite passions things that if everything else was lost and only they

remained, your life would still be full.” The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job,

your house, and your car. The sand is everything else the small stuff.

“If you put the sand into the Jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf

balls.” The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will

never have room for the things that are important. Pay attention to the things that are critical to

your happiness. Play with your children. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really

matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Coffee represented. The professor

smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,

there’s always room for a couple of cups of Coffee with a friends.”

THE BAR

A tale is told about a small town that had historically been “dry,”

(no alcohol sold) but then a local businessman decided to build a

tavern. A group of Christians from a local church were concerned

and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene.

It just so happened that shortly thereafter lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.

The owner of the bar sued the church, claiming that the prayers of the congregation were

responsible, but the church hired a lawyer to argue in court that they were not responsible.

The presiding judge, after his initial review of the case, stated that “No matter how this case comes

out, one thing is clear. The tavern owner believes in prayer and the Christians do not.”

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge,

and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island

would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment. When

the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, “Richness, can you take me with you?”

Richness answered, “No, I can’t. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here

for you.”

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. “Vanity, please help me!”

“I can’t help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat,” Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, “Sadness, let me go with you.” “Oh . Love, I am so sad that

I need to be by myself!” Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even

hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, “Come, Love, I will take you.” It was an elder.

So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were

going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way. Realizing

how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, “Who

Helped me?”

“It was Time,” Knowledge answered.

“Time?” asked Love. “But why did Time help me?” Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and

answered, “Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is.”