The Fox and the Grapes

 

One hot summer day, a hungry fox was wandering through the forest. He had been searching for food all day but hadn’t found anything to eat. As he was about to give up, he spotted a grapevine loaded with juicy, ripe grapes hanging from a high branch.

 

The fox’s mouth watered as he stared at the delicious grapes. He jumped up to reach them, but they were too high. He tried again, leaping with all his might, but still couldn’t reach them. The fox refused to give up and kept trying, each jump more desperate than the last.

 

Question: Do you think the fox will be able to get the grapes? Why or why not?

 

After several attempts, the fox grew tired and frustrated. No matter how hard he tried, the grapes were just out of reach. Exhausted and disappointed, the fox sat down on the ground, panting. He looked up at the grapes one last time and said, “Those grapes are probably sour anyway. I wouldn’t want them even if I could reach them.”

 

The fox walked away, his hunger unquenched, but he tried to convince himself that he didn’t care about the grapes. Deep down, though, he knew he had just been trying to protect his pride.

 

Question: Why do you think the fox said the grapes were sour even though he wanted them so badly?

 

As the fox trotted away, he realized that sometimes it’s easier to pretend we don’t want something than to admit we can’t have it. But in the end, giving up without trying your best can leave you with regrets.

 

Moral: It’s easy to despise what you cannot have. Instead of making excuses, it’s better to accept your limitations and work on overcoming them.