Teaching Story - The Fairy`s New Year Gift

by Life Positive

She handed to each child a package, and in an instant was gone.

Carl and Philip opened the packages and found in them two beautiful books, with pages as pure and white as the snow when it first falls.

Many months passed and the fairy came again to the boys. "I have brought you each another book," said she,“and will take the first ones back to Father Time who sent them to you.“

“I wish that I could look through mine just once,“ said Carl; “I have only seen one page at a time, for when the leaf turns over it sticks fast, and I can never open the book at more than one place each day.“

“You shall look at your book,“ said the fairy, “and Philip, at his.“ And she lit for them two little silver lamps, by the light of which they saw the pages.

"Shall I explain some of the pictures to you?" said the fairy, smiling at the two little boys.

“See, Philip, the spray of roses blossomed on this page when you let the baby have your playthings; and this pretty bird, that looks as if it were singing with all its might, would never have been on this page if you had not tried to be kind and pleasant the other day, instead of quarrelling.“

"But what makes this blot?"asked Philip.

"That,"said the fairy sadly; "that came when you told an untruth one day, and this when you did not mind mamma. All these blots and scratches that look so ugly, both in your book and in Carl’s, were made when you were naughty. Each pretty thing in your books came on its page when you were good."

"Oh, if we could only have the books again!" said Carl and Philip.

"That cannot be," said the fairy, "but I have brought you each a new one. Perhaps you can make these more beautiful than the others."

So saying, she vanished, and the boys were left alone, but each held in his hand a new book open at the first page.

And on the back of this book was written in letters of gold, "For the New Year."

-Emilie Poulsson

Takeaway: Each year is like a blank book which we fill with our thoughts, words and deeds. If you want a beautiful book, be aware and strive to be the best you can be. But if you do make mistakes, never mind! Forgive yourself. You are here to grow and God does not expect you to be perfect all the time. Just learn from the mistake and you will have grown!