Parable “The Real Joys of Life”

 

Children were playing in the yard. Suddenly one girl said:

– And today I have joy – my mother bought me a new dress! It is so beautiful, white with pink roses, just extraordinary, – Anechka said and dreamily closed her eyes.

Vova thought a little and also said:

– But I have a new shirt! Here’s what! – and he spread his arms wide so that everyone could appreciate his new shirt.

– And they bought me pencils, – Lenochka said quickly, – a whole box! Bright and beautiful!

– What pencils! – Kostya joined the conversation, – Here I have a fishing rod! Real! Dad and I will go fishing and I will catch a lot of fish! And you draw with pencils and that’s it …

And the children began vying with each other to list all their gifts and joys.

They bought me a bike! And me a constructor! And I have a cat at home! – heard from different sides. And only one boy sat quietly and smiled.

– Alyosha, why are you silent? Anechka asked him. – Don’t you have any joy? – Eat! – modestly answered the boy. – I saw flowers in the forest!

– Which flowers? Kostya asked in bewilderment.

– White ones! Dad and I were walking in the forest, and then it got dark and there were little white flowers in the clearing. So beautiful! They seemed to glow!

– That’s my joy! Kostya said and laughed.

– Indeed! Who hasn’t seen flowers? Lenochka laughed.

– And I saw shiny roofs! Lesha said. – In winter, snow lay on them and the sun shone brightly. All the roofs in the city were so shiny. True true! I saw it from the balcony.

And it’s not fun at all! – Vova shouted laughing, – We all saw the snow. It falls every winter!

– Alyosha, maybe you have some other joy? Anya tried to support him.

– Eat! I saw goldfish! the boy said modestly.

– What kind of fish? Kostya asked. – Where?

– In a puddle. First it rained, and then the sun came out. The water in the puddle shone and goldfish swam in it!

– You’re lying! – said Kostya, – You have no joy! Here is what you think!

And all the guys started laughing. And only Anechka said quietly:

– Wait, guys! Or maybe he has more of these little joys than we do, because he will find them everywhere!