The Little Boy Who Learned the Value of Kindness
Title: The Little Boy Who Learned the Value of Kindness
In a small village surrounded by tall palm trees and dusty roads, there lived a poor boy named Chima. Chima had no father, and his mother struggled every day to feed them. Their house was made of mud, with a leaking roof that sang loudly whenever it rained.
Despite their hardship, Chima’s mother always told him,
“My son, no matter how little we have, never forget to be kind. Kindness is wealth that never finishes.”
But Chima did not understand.
One hot afternoon, Chima sat under a mango tree, watching other children eat roasted corn and groundnuts. His stomach growled loudly.
“Why must we always be poor?” he muttered angrily. “Kindness cannot fill an empty stomach.”
That same day, his mother gave him their last five naira.
“Go and buy garri so we can eat tonight,” she said gently.
Chima took the money and walked to the market, his heart heavy. On the way, he saw an old blind man sitting by the roadside.
“Please… help me,” the man begged weakly. “I have not eaten for two days.”
Chima stopped. He looked at the money in his hand, then at the man.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “This is all we have.”
As he walked away, the old man’s voice followed him,
“Kindness returns in ways you cannot see, my child.”
Chima ignored him and continued to the market.
But when he reached there, something strange happened—the money slipped from his hand and disappeared into the crowd. He searched everywhere, sweating and panicking.
“My mother will be so disappointed,” he cried.
Defeated, he slowly walked back home, his head down.
On the same road, he saw the old man again.
“Why are you crying, my son?” the man asked.
“I lost the money my mother gave me,” Chima replied, tears rolling down his cheeks. “Now we have nothing to eat.”
The old man smiled gently.
“Do not worry.”
He reached into his worn bag and brought out a small bundle of food—more than enough for Chima and his mother.
“Take this,” he said.
Chima was shocked.
“But… I refused to help you earlier. Why are you helping me?”
The old man chuckled softly.
“Because kindness is not a trade. You give it because it is right, not because you expect something in return.”
Chima felt a deep pain in his heart. He remembered his mother’s words and realized how wrong he had been.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I should have helped you.”
The old man nodded.
“What matters is that you have learned.”
When Chima got home and told his mother everything, she smiled warmly and held him close.
“My son,” she said, “today you have gained something greater than money—wisdom.”
From that day on, Chima never ignored anyone in need again. Even when he had little, he shared what he could. And slowly, life began to change for him and his mother in ways he never imagined.
Moral of the Story: