Once upon a time, a towering tree noticed a slender reed growing not far from its roots. The tree stood tall and wide, its branches stretching confidently toward the sky. Proud of its size and strength, it spoke to the reed with a mocking voice.
“Why do you remain so small?” the tree asked. “Why don’t you sink your roots deeper into the earth and grow strong like me? Look at my trunk—solid and unshakable. I rise high above everything else. You could be like this too, if only you tried.”
The reed swayed gently with the breeze and replied calmly,
“I am content as I am. I may not be grand, but in this form, I feel safer.”
The tree burst into laughter.
“Safer? From what danger? No force could ever uproot me. My roots grip the ground tightly, and my body is too strong to bend. If you want security, you should learn from me.”
The reed did not argue. It bowed quietly and said nothing more, trusting that its humility would one day prove its worth. Time passed. Winds blew, rains fell, and the tree continued to boast of its strength, convinced that nothing could ever threaten it.
Then one day, dark clouds filled the sky, and a terrible storm arose. The wind howled with such fury that the tree’s mighty branches snapped and flew through the air. Even its deep roots could not resist the force. With a thunderous crash, the great tree was torn from the ground and thrown down, lying helpless and broken.
The reed, however, bent low before the storm. It leaned with the wind, twisting and swaying, yielding instead of resisting. When the storm finally passed, the reed straightened once more—untouched and unharmed, just as before.
And so, a quiet truth was revealed: Strength and size do not always bring safety. Sometimes, humility and flexibility protect better than power ever could. Those who are content and adaptable often survive what the mighty cannot.
The end.