The Little Frog Who Waited for Rain

The dry season had lasted much longer than usual this year. The little pond where the frog lived shrank a bit more each day. The little frog stared hopefully at the sky, wishing the rain would hurry up and come.

Every day the little frog complained without end. He shouted up at the sun asking why it was so hot, and at the wind asking why it wouldn't blow the rain clouds in. The more he complained, the more frustrated he felt.

A big old fish and a wise old turtle, who had lived in the pond for many years, saw the little frog complaining every day. They invited him to help dig the pond a little deeper to save the last bit of water, and gently told him that patience mattered far more than complaining.

The little frog began to understand and stopped complaining. He helped the fish and turtle share the little water that remained fairly among everyone. Each day they sat together patiently, waiting calmly for the rain.

At last, dark rain clouds rolled in and covered the sky, and rain poured down until the pond filled up again. The little frog leapt with joy, realizing that patience and helping each other were what had carried them through the dry days.

Patience and helping one another are what carry us through the hardest, driest days.