Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in Richmond Park in London. One day, Mary gathered the rabbit family and explained to them the importance of the “golden rule.”
Mary told them that the golden rule is a principle that says “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.” She said that this is important because it means being kind, respectful, and fair to others.
She also added that when we treat others the way we would like to be treated, it makes everyone feel good and happy. And when we don’t follow the golden rule, it can cause problems and fights.
The rabbits listened to Mary and they understood the importance of following the golden rule. They realized that by treating others with kindness and respect, they could make the whole community a better and happier place. From that day on, the rabbits always followed the golden rule and lived in peace and harmony with the other animals in Richmond Park.
Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in a big park called Richmond Park in London. One day, Mary gathered the rabbit family and told them a story about a fox who wanted to eat some grapes but couldn’t reach them. He got mad and said “those grapes are probably sour anyway.”
Mary explained that this story is about when you want something but can’t have it and then make an excuse for not getting it. She told the rabbits that it’s important to be happy with what you have and not to compare yourself to others. She encouraged the rabbits to be grateful for what they have and not to always focus on what they don’t have.
The rabbits listened to Mary and they learned a valuable lesson. They realized that it’s better to be happy with what you have than to always want more. From that day on, the rabbits were happy and content with what they had and Mary the wise owl was always there to guide them and tell them stories that taught them valuable lessons.
Once upon a time, in a forest, there was a wise old owl named Mary. All the animals in the forest would come to her for advice and guidance.
One day, a group of young bunnies came to Mary and asked her to tell them a story. Mary thought for a moment. She remembered a story a wise man called Aesop told her. Mary began to speak.
“Once upon a time, there was a rabbit named Speedy and a turtle named Slowpoke,” she said. “Speedy was very fast and loved to brag about how fast he could run. Slowpoke, on the other hand, was slow but steady.
One day, Speedy decided to challenge Slowpoke to a race. He laughed and said, ‘There’s no way you can win, you’re too slow!’ But Slowpoke accepted the challenge.
The day of the race arrived and Speedy took off quickly, leaving Slowpoke behind. But Speedy got too confident and took a nap during the race. When he woke up, he saw Slowpoke crossing the finish line first.
The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race. Don’t be like Speedy and brag all the time. Instead, be like Slowpoke and work hard and you will be successful in the end.”
The young bunnies were very impressed and thanked Mary for the story. From that day on, they remembered the story of Speedy and Slowpoke and worked hard to achieve their goals.
Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in a big park called Richmond Park in London. One day, there was a big snowstorm and it was hard for all the animals to find food and stay warm. Mary knew that everyone had to work together to survive.
The foxes knew how to find food in the snow and they taught the rabbits. The rabbits knew how to make shelters to stay warm and they taught the foxes. Together, they were able to survive the storm.
Mary saw that some of the rabbits were feeling bad because they weren’t as good at hunting as the foxes. So, she taught the rabbits that everyone has different talents and it’s important to focus on what you’re good at and not compare yourself to others.
She also said that comparing yourself to others is not a good idea because everyone has their own struggles and it’s not fair to compare yourself based on what you see on the outside. She taught them to focus on their own progress and growth and to be proud of themselves for their own accomplishments no matter how small.
The rabbits listened to Mary and they stopped comparing themselves to the foxes and others. They focused on being the best version of themselves and being helpful to others. From that day on, all the animals in Richmond Park, London worked together and were happy. And Mary the wise owl was always there to guide them and remind them to treat themselves and others with kindness and respect.
Once upon a time, there was a wise old owl named Mary who lived in Richmond Park. She had lived there for many years and had seen many things come and go. One day, she noticed that the rabbit family who lived nearby were having trouble finding food. The rabbits were small and not very fast, so they couldn’t catch their own food like the bigger animals could.
Mary, the wise owl, knew she had to help the rabbit family, so she went to speak with them. When they first met, Mary told the rabbits that the most important rule in life was to treat other animals just like they would like to be treated. She called it the golden rule.
She taught the rabbits how to better use their ears to listen for the sound of the plants growing underground. This way, they could find the freshest and most nutritious plants to eat. She also taught them how to better use their noses to smell for predators, so they could stay safe.
The rabbits followed Mary’s advice, and soon they were thriving. They had plenty of food and were able to live in peace and safety in Richmond Park.
But one day, a sly fox frightened the rabbits as he was hunting them, the rabbits were not aware of the fox’s presence and were caught off guard. The fox was almost able to catch a few of the young rabbits before they could run away. Mary, seeing the commotion, flew down to the scene and chased the fox away.
Mary then gathered the shivering rabbits and reminded them of the importance of staying alert and being aware of their surroundings at all times, especially when predators are around. She also reminded them of the golden rule, that they must always treat other animals just as they would like to be treated and to look out for one another. Little did they realise how important that rule would turn out to be.
One day, while the rabbits were out foraging, they stumbled upon a trap set by a hunter. Inside the trap was the fox who had been hunting them before. The rabbits were afraid and wanted to leave the fox there to suffer, but one of the young rabbits, named Flopsy, remembered Mary’s golden rule and decided to help the fox.
Flopsy carefully freed the fox from the trap, and the fox, surprised and grateful, thanked Flopsy. The fox said his name was Lightning and explained that he had been caught in the trap while hunting for food for his family, and that he had never intended to harm the rabbits. The two animals realized that they were not so different after all, and they became friends.
The fox and the rabbit family then worked together to find food and protect each other from danger in Richmond Park. Mary was happy to see that her advice had been taken to heart and that even the unlikeliest of friendships could form. They all lived happily ever after, always looking out for each other and Mary the wise owl was always there to protect them, always reminding them of the golden rule to treat others just as they would like to be treated.
A few months later there was a massive rain storm. The wind howled. The trees shook. It was icy cold. The rabbit family huddled together in their den.
Yet on that cold and windy night, at the height of the storm, they met someone who would become their friend for ever. He would become known as the Hero of the Winter Storm. He was a young dog named Wally.
But what happened?
That is another story ………………….
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*This story was generated by AI and a process of focused iteration plus actual amendment.
One hot day in a remote area of the Kruger National Park in South Africa, a Leopard was enjoying a snooze under a huge marula tree. He had just dozed off when a passing Meerkat accidently brushed against him. The Leopard woke with a start, saw the Meercat and growled, “How dare you wake me! I am going to eat you!’
The terrified Meerkat pleaded, “Be kind! Don’t hurt me. One day I may repay your kindness.”
The Leopard laughed scornfully, “How can a tiny meerkat ever help a leopard? Be off with you!” And so, the Meerkat escaped.
A few days later the Leopard was caught in a net laid by hunters. Fearing the return of the hunters the Leopard screamed for help. Not far off the Meerkat heard the Leopard’s cries, found the Leopard and bit through the net and set the Leopard free.
Lesson: Never underestimate where you might find help in time of dire need.
Deep in the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa a Zebra heard a dove calling. It was the sweetest sound the Zebra had ever heard. He wished his voice was as beautiful. The Zebra demanded that the dove tell him what the food was she ate that gave her such a beautiful voice. The dove replied, “The only food I have is the dew on the grass in the early morning.” From that moment on the Zebra drank only dew. Not long after, the Zebra died of hunger.
The Lesson: Envy of the unattainable can be fatal.
“It is 5 years ago exactly that I went to Many Tears in Llanelli to pick up this beauty! Kiera is my constant and trusty companion and as many of you know. …even sends poems over the ether to me. She is delightful and I have never regretted collecting her. From Romania to the UK…..her story is a huge success!”
Kiera also remembers. Anna sent me this poem by Kiera:
I love to run and dash, enjoy and splash.. Memories so part of me, fading now….. Like mists which rise and fall Into a deep nothingness…. And yet Somewhere deep within I was once loved…… My mind expands to far off lands For one brief moment… I remember. … But soon returns for I am here…forever near To the One who breathes love And cares for me…. An echo from my plight, a shaft of light It’s always there, deep and asleep In my doggy soul….
Click here for the amazing story of how Kiera came from Romania to England.
Republished in Match 2022. This was published a few weeks before my wife and I got Covid. Question: How deeply do we understand reality?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Hamlet – Ac1, Scene 5, 166-7
James Fromme tripped and fell off the ten-meter-long suspension bridge into a shallow stream running in the gully below. The drop was about five feet and he landed on some boulders. Lying in the icy water he realized his left leg must be badly injured.
The pain was excruciating, and he passed out. It was five thirty in the afternoon and getting dark.
The accident happened on Sunday, September 16, 2012 on the golf course at the Sani Pass Hotel close to the border between South Africa and Lethoto. The hotel is in a narrow valley next to the road leading up the pass.
The valley is surrounded by the Drakensberg mountains. It is an area where the weather changes quickly and with little warning. The temperature can drop suddenly. On a sunny afternoon black clouds can appear in the west over Lesotho and quickly bring drizzle, rain, sleet and even snow. It is not a good place to lie unconscious hidden in a gully with a badly injured leg.
At the time, James and his wife Cindy were staying at the hotel. The plan was to stay for the week. They had been several times before. They knew the place well and in particular enjoyed the golf course. It is a narrow golf course because of the narrow valley. This means that the furthest hole is about two kilometers from the hotel building. Baboons can often be seen from the hotel patio feeding on the distant fairways. These baboons have never been a danger but as anyone who lives in Africa knows, baboons are not to be trifled with. A baboon can easily kill a dog or even a leopard, given the chance. Obviously a person is no match for a baboon.
On the day James fell, his wife Cindy was twenty seven kilometers away in Underberg. She had gone there for a Church Meeting to be followed by a late afternoon tea with friends from the nearby Drakensberg Gardens resort.
Cindy had left the Hotel at around two in the afternoon. She told James she would be back at about seven in time for dinner. James stayed behind at the hotel. After tea – at about half past four – he decided to go and play golf. He did not tell anyone he was going.
He fetched some balls and a golf club and made his way down to the course. There were some baboons at the far end of the course about two kilometers away, but he was sure that they would run away if he went near them.
Playing several balls, he made his way towards the Lesotho end of the course. The baboons were nowhere to be seen but he could hear them barking in the nearby ravines. Then, it began to get chilly. Huge clouds over Lesotho had quietly crept closer, dropping and getting darker. He suddenly realized the light was going fast because when he looked back at the hotel in the far distance the patio lights had come on and were sharply visible in the gathering dusk.
James had just crossed he last bridge and was at the end of the course when suddenly there was crackling flash of lightning followed immediately by a massive boom of thunder. The sound of the thunder was greatly amplified as it echoed back from the surrounding mountains.
James was concerned because there was no delay between the lightning flash and the boom of the thunder. This meant the storm was right above him. Then suddenly – more and more lightning and thunder. This really worried him as his golf club had a steel shaft and this could attract the lightning. He realized he must get back to the hotel. And quickly. By then it was half past five but because of the coming rain and heavy clouds it was it was difficult to see. It was when he was crossing the first bridge on the way back that he tripped and fell.
James must have been unconscious for about half an hour when he woke and realized that something was moving in the darkness above the gully. Confused and nauseous from pain and terrified that it might be a baboon he shouted. “Who is that?” A scuffling sound grew closer and he then could see the very dim shapes of a person and a dog clambering down towards him. “It is me – Joshua and my dog Nala.”
James must have lost consciousness again immediately because the next thing he remembered was waking up in a hospital room with Cindy at his bedside.
“Awake at last sweetheart” Cindy kissed him. You are going to be ok. You fell on the golf course and nearly broke your leg. Banged your head too. You would have died if a young man had not seen you fall and come to you. He carried you all the way back to the hotel in the thunderstorm. An ambulance brought you here to the hospital in Umzimkulu – about an hour and a half from the Hotel.”
James lay very still. “Cindy – it was Joshua who rescued me. He was there with his dog.”
Three days later James was discharged from the hospital and returned to the hotel. The next morning, he discussed his amazing rescue with the manager of the hotel.
The manager told him that at about seven in the evening the previous Sunday, during a massive thunder storm, a member of the hotel staff had come running and told him that an injured person had been brought to the hotel. He had quickly gone outside and found a young man carrying James who was unconscious. The young man told the manager that he had found James injured on the golf course. The manager had then brought James inside to get warm by the huge fire in the hotel lounge and phoned for an ambulance. At the same time Cindy had returned from Underberg. When the manager looked for the rescuer, he discovered that he had gone without even giving his name. The manager told James that he was incredibly lucky – nobody had known where he was. He could have died of exposure as it had snowed later that night.
James then told the manager that it was Joshua who had rescued him. He explained that he had known Joshua for several years. He was a local shepherd. Their friend ship had started a few years earlier when James had come across Joshua on the golf course. Joshua was about fourteen then. After that, James and Cindy had come to the hotel regularly over the years and had met Joshua on almost every visit. The pattern was the same: Joshua and his sheep dog Nala would be tending livestock on the mountainside above the golf course. He would see James and come down to chat. And so, the friendship had developed.
James told the manager that he supposed this is exactly what had happened on the previous Sunday “Joshua and Nala must been on the mountain above the course when the storm broke. He saw me fall and came down to help me. I know where Joshua lives. He is from a village on the first mountain ridge towards Lesotho, about ten kilometers away. I have seen his village from the patio. You can’t always see it. Most times it is covered by cloud but sometimes the clouds part and you get a glimpse of it. It looks an exceptionally beautiful place.”
The manager was most helpful. “Yes. I have heard of that village. It apparently is very beautiful. Our Chef is from the same village.”
“I would like to thank Joshua.” James was excited. “May I speak to the Chef? What is his name?”
“His name is John. He comes on duty at twelve. I’ll ask him to meet you on the patio just after twelve.”
James was ready waiting on the patio at a quarter to twelve. The air was full of bird chatter celebrating the end of winter and the certainty of spring. He walked to the edge of the patio and looked above the golf course towards Lesotho. He tried to see Joshua’s village. It was a warm, sunny day but there was still plenty of cloud. He could just see the village but only dimly. He decided right then that he would go there one day and meet its people. Then James heard a sound behind him. It was the Chef, John.
“The manager said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. Thank you for coming. Let us sit down.”
The two men sat down at a table on the patio. James told the John his whole story. How he and Cindy had been coming to Sani Pass Hotel regularly for years. How he had first met Joshua and then got to know him better as the years passed. And then he explained how Joshua had saved his life.
While James was telling the story, John did not say a word. He just looked steadily at James.
“I would like very much to thank Joshua for what he did. I understand that you and Joshua live in the same village – that beautiful village in the mountains on the way to Lesotho.
John did not reply. A full minute passed.
James was puzzled. “Is something wrong?”
Speaking very softly the John replied. “Joshua died about four months ago. He and his dog Nala were killed by a landslide high in the mountains”
The two men sat in silence. Even the birds seemed to have gone quiet.
Then after a few minutes, without saying a word, John got up and left, leaving James alone. James stood up and slowly made his way back to the edge of the patio to see if he could still see the village. But he could not. The clouds had come down over the whole ridge. Everything had been hidden.
James went slowly back to the room he and Cindy were sharing. She was getting ready for lunch.
“Did you see the Chef? She stopped brushing her hair. “Is something wrong? What has happened? Are you upset about something?”
He looked quietly at her. “Cindy sweetheart, I have something to tell you that will change the way we look at life forever.”
This beautiful and moving prayer was given by Kiera to her owner Anna. When you thoughtfully read the prayer you will realise that Kiera is very special as is the relationship between Kiera and Anna. Prayerfully read the prayer and then click here to read Anna’s account of how she and Kiera came together. Their story has received more views than any other post on this blog. Read the story and you will know why. But, read Kiera’s prayer first. Please scroll down.
Kiera
KIERA’S LAMENT
I lie in stillness needing peace And beg my mind to please release For thoughts of anguish and of pain Transfer to me from dear Ukraine. I feel them, sense them, hear their cries Winged by clouds across the skies…. And screams from wounds keep me awake How to deal with this heartbreak? Blessed Angels hear my plea (Even though a dog I be) Wrap Ukraine in wings of love Ask for forces from above. I’ll shout, I’ll whine and bark out loud For this country now so proud…. Till this fight is put to bed Man nor beast can rest his head Make haste dear Angels, show you care Will you hear a doggy ‘s prayer?
johnbartels.com 