The Grateful Deer

Once upon a time, in a lush green forest surrounded by towering mountains, there lived a kind-hearted woodcutter named Rohan. He was poor but content, spending his days chopping wood and selling it in the nearby village to make a humble living. Despite his struggles, Rohan always thanked God for whatever little he had.

One cold winter morning, as Rohan was walking through the forest with his axe, he heard a faint whimpering sound. Curious, he followed the noise and discovered a young deer trapped in a hunter’s snare. The deer’s leg was bleeding, and its big, fearful eyes pleaded for help.

Rohan’s heart melted with compassion. Without hesitation, he bent down and carefully freed the deer from the trap. He tore a piece of his own cloth to bandage the wound and gently carried the deer to a nearby stream to clean the injury.

“There, little one,” Rohan said softly. “You’re safe now.”

The deer licked Rohan’s hand gratefully before limping away into the trees. Rohan smiled, happy to have helped, and continued with his work.

A Miracle in the Forest
Days turned into weeks, and Rohan forgot about the incident. But one evening, as he was returning home after a long day of work, he heard rustling in the bushes. To his surprise, the same deer emerged, followed by a majestic stag with golden antlers.

The stag spoke in a deep, gentle voice, “Kind man, you saved my child’s life. We are the guardians of this forest, and we never forget an act of kindness. As a token of our gratitude, we grant you a gift.”

With a wave of his antlers, the stag revealed a hidden cave filled with precious gems and gold. Rohan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Take what you need,” the stag said. “But remember, true wealth lies in a grateful heart.”

Rohan, overwhelmed with gratitude, bowed deeply. “Thank you, noble stag. I will use this gift wisely.”

The Test of Greed
With his newfound wealth, Rohan built a beautiful house, helped the poor in his village, and lived comfortably. But his neighbor, Vikram, was a greedy man who envied Rohan’s fortune.

One day, Vikram sneaked into the forest, hoping to find the golden stag. He set traps, hoping to capture the deer and force the stag to reveal the treasure. When the young deer got caught again, Vikram laughed wickedly.

“Now, the stag will have to give me the treasure!” he exclaimed.

But as soon as he said this, the golden stag appeared, his eyes burning with anger. “You dare harm my child out of greed?” he thundered.

Before Vikram could react, the ground beneath him shook, and the cave of treasures vanished. The stag then turned to the deer and said, “Let us leave this place. Only those with pure hearts deserve blessings.”

Vikram was left with nothing but regret.

The Lesson of Gratitude
When Rohan heard what had happened, he felt sad for Vikram. He visited him and shared his own food and money.

“Why are you helping me after what I did?” Vikram asked, ashamed.

“Because gratitude is not just about saying thanks,” Rohan replied. “It’s about sharing blessings with others.”

Vikram realized his mistake and vowed to change. Over time, he too learned the value of kindness and gratitude.

From that day on, the villagers often spoke of the golden stag and the grateful deer, remembering the lesson: "Gratitude attracts more blessings, while greed leads to loss."

Moral of the Story
Gratitude opens the doors to abundance. When we appreciate what we have and show kindness without expecting anything in return, the universe rewards us in unexpected ways. But greed and selfishness only lead to emptiness. A thankful heart is the truest treasure of all.

The End.