The Golden Lesson-Tundes Journey to Gratitude
Once upon a time, in a quaint village surrounded by rolling hills, lived a young boy named Tunde. Bright and curious, Tunde was raised by his loving but elderly grandmother. Despite their modest means, she cared for him with boundless devotion, stitching his clothes by hand and preparing simple meals with love. But Tunde, like many his age, often looked beyond what he had, yearning for more.
“Why don’t we have a big house like the others?” he would complain. “Why can’t I have new toys or fancy clothes like my friends?”
His grandmother, her face lined with years of wisdom, would gently smile. “We may not have much, my dear, but we have each other. That is more precious than gold.”
But Tunde didn’t understand. To him, their simple life felt like a burden, and he often felt sorry for himself. One day, while walking home from school, he overheard women in the village market gossiping about a magical golden tortoise. This tortoise, they said, lived in a hidden cave deep in the forest and had the power to grant wishes—but only to those deemed worthy.
Tunde’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “If I could find the golden tortoise,” he thought, “I could wish for all the riches I want. I’d never have to live like this again!”
The next morning, Tunde skipped school and ventured into the dense forest, following the stories he had heard. After hours of searching, he found a dark cave. Inside, the air was cool and still, and at the far end sat a magnificent tortoise with a shell that shimmered like pure gold. Awestruck, Tunde approached cautiously.
“Great Tortoise,” he said, his voice quivering with excitement, “I have come to make a wish. I wish for wealth and fine things, so I never have to feel less than my friends again.”
The tortoise regarded him with wise, ancient eyes. “I can grant your wish, young one,” it said, “but first, you must complete three tasks to prove your worth.”
Eagerly, Tunde nodded. “I’ll do whatever you ask!”
“Your first task,” the tortoise began, “is to bring me the most expensive thing your grandmother owns.”
Tunde rushed home and searched through his grandmother’s belongings. He rummaged through her old chest, but all he found were worn clothes and simple trinkets. Frustrated, he returned empty-handed.
“I couldn’t find anything valuable,” he admitted, his head hung low.
The tortoise smiled knowingly. “Then for your second task, bring me your most prized possession and tell me why it’s precious.”
Tunde returned home and thought hard. Finally, he chose an old, colorful shirt his grandmother had patched many times. When he brought it back, the tortoise asked, “Why is this precious?”
Tunde looked at the shirt with new eyes. “It’s precious because my grandmother mended it for me over and over. It shows how much she loves and cares for me.”
The tortoise nodded approvingly. “For your final task, ask your grandmother what her most valuable possession is and bring it to me.”
That evening, Tunde approached his grandmother by the fire. “Grandma,” he asked, tears brimming in his eyes, “what is your most valuable possession?”
His grandmother smiled softly and hugged him. “It’s you, my dear. You are my treasure.”
The next morning, Tunde returned to the cave. “Great Tortoise,” he said, his voice steady, “I am my grandmother’s most valuable possession. I now understand how much she has sacrificed for me.”
The golden tortoise smiled warmly. “You have learned the greatest lesson, young one. Gratitude and love are more valuable than any riches.”
From that day on, Tunde stopped complaining about what he lacked. He cherished his grandmother’s love and worked hard to make her proud. Together, they shared a life filled with joy and gratitude, a life richer than any treasure could provide.