Once upon a time, in a bright valley surrounded by golden trees, there lived many animals from different places around the world. They spoke different languages, liked different games, and—most importantly—loved different foods.
One autumn morning, Wise Old Turtle had an idea.
“Let’s have a Gratitude Table,” she said. “Everyone will bring a special dish from their home, and we will share what we are thankful for.”
The animals liked this idea very much.
On the day of the feast, a long wooden table was set under a big oak tree.
First came Bella the Bear, carrying a bowl of warm honey porridge.
“In my family,” she said, “we eat this together to stay strong. I’m thankful for my family.”
Next hopped Lulu the Rabbit with a basket of crunchy carrot pies.
“In my meadow,” she smiled, “we grow carrots with care. I’m thankful for the earth that feeds us.”
Then arrived Kofi the Elephant, carefully placing spicy vegetable stew on the table.
“This recipe comes from my homeland,” he said proudly. “I’m thankful for my memories and traditions.”
Mei the Crane flew down gently with rice cakes wrapped in leaves.
“These are made to share,” she said. “I’m thankful for peace and friendship.”
Soon the table was full of colors, smells, and happy chatter. At first, some animals felt shy. The foods looked different, and some smelled unfamiliar.
Little Ollie the Fox whispered, “What if I don’t like it?”
Wise Old Turtle smiled. “Trying something new is a way of saying thank you to the one who made it.”
Ollie took a small bite of the rice cake. His eyes widened.
“This is delicious!” he said.
One by one, the animals tasted new foods. They laughed, asked questions, and shared stories about their homes. The table no longer felt strange—it felt warm.
When everyone was full, Wise Old Turtle asked, “What did we learn today?”
Bella said, “Different doesn’t mean bad.”
Lulu said, “Sharing brings us closer.”
Ollie said, “I’m thankful for new friends.”
As the sun set, the animals held hands, wings, and paws around the table. They realized that gratitude was not just about food—it was about kindness, respect, and being together.
And from that day on, the Gratitude Table became a yearly tradition, reminding everyone that friendship grows when we share with open hearts.