In a sunny garden full of colours, many flowers grew side by side. Birds sang in the trees, and butterflies danced in the air. In the middle of this beautiful place stood a tall red rose named Rosie. She had soft petals, a sweet smell, and a bright red colour that made it easy to see her. Rosie stood taller than all the other flowers, and she liked to show off.
Every morning, Rosie smiled at the sun and said, “I am the most beautiful flower in this garden. No one is as lovely as me!”
Next to Rosie grew some cheerful daisies with yellow faces. A shy violet with purple petals sat quietly under a leaf. Not far from them, a small green cactus grew. The Cactus had thick skin and tiny thorns, but it didn’t say much. It just listened and watched.
One morning, the Cactus looked at Rosie and kindly said, “Good morning, Rosie. What a nice day!”
Rosie turned her face away and wrinkled her petals. “Don’t talk to me, Cactus,” she said. “You are not pretty like me. You are too prickly and plain.”
The Cactus felt sad, but he didn’t say anything back. The daisies looked down, and the violet hid behind a leaf. They didn’t like how Rosie spoke to the Cactus, but Rosie didn’t notice.
Many days passed, and the weather began to change. The sun became hotter and hotter. The rain ceased to fall. The ground turned dry and cracked. Bees stopped visiting. Flowers began to droop. Their leaves turned brown, and their petals looked tired.
Rosie was feeling weak. Her bright red petals had lost their colour. Her head bent under the heat, and her voice was quiet.
“Oh… I need water,” she whispered.
But Rosie’s roots were short and close to the surface. She could not find water deep in the soil. The daisies were also thirsty. The violet didn’t speak. But the Cactus still looked green and strong.
One morning, Rosie saw a little bird flying toward the Cactus. The bird sat beside the cactus and drank a small drop of water that had come from its thick green stem. The bird chirped, “Thank you, Cactus. You are kind and smart. You store water inside yourself, and now you are sharing it.”
Rosie watched quietly. She felt surprised. All this time, she thought the Cactus was not special. But now, when all the other flowers were weak, the Cactus stayed healthy and even helped others.
Rosie felt a new feeling inside. She looked at the Cactus and apologized, “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you. I was rude and proud. I didn’t know how kind and helpful you are.”
The Cactus smiled gently. “It’s okay, Rosie. We all have something good inside. You can have some water too. After all, what are friends for!”
Rosie was taken aback by the Cactus’ kindness.
She thanked him and took a small sip of water. It felt cool and sweet. Slowly, her petals started to lift again, and she felt better.
From that day on, Rosie changed. She stopped saying she was the most beautiful flower. Instead, she smiled at the other flowers and spoke kindly. She greeted the Cactus every morning and shared stories with the daisies and the violet.
The garden became happier as the flowers laughed together in the sun, and the birds and the bees returned.
What Lessons Could Young People Pick from The Proud Red Rose?
This story, The Proud Red Rose, teaches us many valuable lessons about kindness, respect, and understanding. It shows that we should not judge others based on their appearance. True beauty is found in how we treat others, not just in our appearance. Someone who may seem different or quiet, like the Cactus, can have a big heart and be a great friend.
Rosie learned that being proud and rude can push others away and leave us feeling alone. We build strong friendships, though, when we care about others, listen to them, and lend a hand when we can. We all possess different skills, and we all grow when we work together and support one another.
If Rosie’s journey from pride to kindness touched your heart, explore more inspiring moral stories at Storyious. Every tale blooms with a lesson, some soft like petals and others strong like thorns, each one helping you grow.
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