Do wishes always bring happiness? This is a story about a young shepherd who found a great treasure, but discovered that true happiness is not in what we wish for, but in what we already have.
The Shepherd's Secret Wish
In a peaceful little village in the south of Spain, lived a joyful people. Their lives were simple, and their children played under the shade of lush trees. Near this village lived a young shepherd named Nasir with his family. Every morning, he would take his herd of goats to the green hills, playing his flute happily.
One day, as Nasir was sitting quietly, he spotted a bright light glowing behind a bush. When he approached, he found a transparent crystal ball, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. He held it carefully, and suddenly, he heard a whispering voice from within: "You may make one wish, and I will grant it."
Nasir was puzzled. He had many dreams, but he couldn't choose just one wish. He thought to himself, "I am happy with my life. I have my family, my herd, and my flute. I don't need anything right now." He put the ball in his bag and decided not to tell anyone his secret.
Days passed and Nasir made no wish, but having the ball made him even more cheerful. The villagers noticed this change. One day, a boy from the village followed him and saw him take out the ball to admire it. The boy waited until Nasir fell asleep, then stole the ball and ran back to the village.
The boy gathered all the villagers and showed them the ball. The people scrambled to touch it, and the ball spoke again. "I want a bag full of gold!" one man shouted. In a flash, the bag appeared. Another snatched it and yelled, "I want a palace!" Instantly, his old house transformed into a grand mansion.
Chaos erupted. Everyone made a greedy wish: jewels, castles, and treasures. But instead of happiness, misery took over. The owner of the palace was jealous of the man with the gold, and the owner of the jewels feared they would be stolen. Neighbors argued, and the green gardens and children's laughter disappeared, replaced by cold palaces and empty streets.
Finally, the sad children of the village went to Nasir, carrying the crystal ball. "When our village was small, we were all happy," they said sorrowfully. Their parents admitted with regret, "These palaces and treasures have only brought us pain."
Nasir took the crystal ball and said, "I never made a wish for myself, but if you truly want our village to be as it was, then I will wish for it." Everyone agreed joyfully. Nasir closed his eyes and wished, "I wish for our village to be happy and simple, just like it was before."
In a moment, the cold palaces vanished, and the warm homes and green gardens returned. Laughter once again filled the air, and Nasir went back to playing his flute every evening, its sweet melody spreading throughout the happy village.
🎯 Enrichment & Learning
Values and Lessons Learned
- Contentment is the greatest wealth: True happiness comes from being satisfied with what we have, not from seeking more material possessions.
- Greed destroys communities: The villagers' selfish wishes led to jealousy and arguments, ruining their friendships and the happiness of their village.
- The best things in life are not things: Friendship, playing in nature, and a happy community are treasures that cannot be bought.
- Selflessness can heal what greed breaks: Nasir's one wish was for others, and it was the one that restored happiness to everyone.
Comprehension Questions
- Who is Nasir, and what was his daily life like?
- What did the crystal ball offer Nasir?
- Why didn't Nasir make a wish right away?
- What happened when the villagers used the ball?
- Why were the villagers unhappy after their wishes were granted?
- What was Nasir's final wish?
Critical Thinking Questions
- If you found the crystal ball, what would you wish for and why?
- Do you think the villagers learned their lesson? What would they do if they found the ball again?
- Why is it sometimes hard for people to be content?
Practical Application Questions
- Name three things in your life that you are grateful for right now.
- How can you help make your community (your class, your neighborhood) a happier place without using magic?
- Describe a time you wanted something badly, then realized you didn't actually need it to be happy.
🎨 Interactive Content
Fun Activities
- Gratitude Jar: Decorate a jar, and every day for a week, write down one thing you are grateful for and put it in the jar.
- "Before and After" Drawing: Draw the village "before" (green, happy, simple) and "after" (cold palaces, unhappy people).
- A Wish for Others: Imagine you have one wish to help your friends or family. What would it be?