The Dove and the Lesson of Self-Reliance

The Dove and the Lesson of Self-Reliance

BY:Khan

In a quiet, green garden stood a tall, dense tree. Its wide branches provided shelter to many small creatures, but on the highest branch lived a gentle dove with her tiny chicks. She had carefully built her nest there, weaving it with twigs, soft leaves, and bits of straw. For her, this nest was more than a home—it was a place of safety and joy where she could care for her young.

Each day, the mother dove fluttered out into the fields to gather food and returned with grains and seeds for her hungry chicks. She watched them grow stronger with each passing day. Their wings were now sprouting new feathers, and soon they would learn to fly. Life in the garden seemed peaceful, filled with songs of birds and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

But peace does not always last.

One afternoon, while the dove was away searching for food, her chicks overheard a troubling conversation. The owner of the garden had arrived with his son, stopping beneath their very tree.

The man looked up and said to his boy,
“The season of harvest has arrived. The fruits are ripe and must be picked soon. Tomorrow I will bring my friends with me to help gather them. My arm still hurts, and I cannot do the work alone. With their help, we will collect all the fruit from this tree.”

The chicks trembled in fear. To them, the man’s words sounded like a warning of doom. If he came with his friends, their little nest could be destroyed, and they might not survive. When their mother returned, they anxiously told her everything they had heard.

The dove listened calmly and then comforted them with a soft coo.
“Do not be afraid, my little ones. Rest peacefully. The man will not return tomorrow, nor will his friends. Trust me.”

And she was right. The next day came and went. Neither the garden owner nor his friends appeared. The nest remained safe, and the chicks breathed with relief.

Days passed, until one morning the owner returned again. Once more, the dove was not in the nest, and once more her chicks listened nervously as the man spoke to himself beneath the tree.

“My friends failed me,” he muttered. “They made promises but never came. That is why I have not been able to harvest these fruits. Still, tomorrow will be different. This time they have promised me faithfully that they will help. I will certainly return with them tomorrow.”

When the dove came back, her chicks told her the new plan. To their surprise, she remained calm.
“Do not worry,” she said. “Once again, he will not return. His friends will break their promise, as they did before. Rest easy tonight.”

And once again, her words proved true. The next day passed without any sign of the owner or his friends. The chicks began to feel confident. If their mother was always right, then perhaps their home would never be in danger.

But the world soon reminded them otherwise.

A few days later, the garden owner returned. This time, he was not alone—his sons were with him. Standing beneath the tree, he looked up at its heavy branches and said with determination:

“My so-called friends are nothing but words. They make promises but never act. I can no longer depend on them. If I keep waiting, these fruits will spoil. No, I will not rely on anyone else anymore. Tomorrow, I will return with my sons. Together, we will gather the fruits ourselves. It is better to trust our own strength than to depend on others.”

This time, when the dove returned and her chicks told her what they had heard, her calm face changed. Alarm filled her eyes, and her voice carried urgency.

“My children,” she said firmly, “we must leave this place at once. Until now, the garden owner relied on others. As long as he depended on his friends, he remained helpless and nothing happened. But today, he has decided to trust himself. Tomorrow, he will surely act. When a person relies on their own strength instead of waiting for others, success is certain. If we stay, our nest will be destroyed. We must fly away immediately.”

Without delay, the dove spread her wings and guided her chicks into the open sky. Together, they left their old home behind, soaring higher and higher until the garden disappeared below them. They would find another tree, another place of safety.

And so, the little family of doves survived, carrying with them a timeless lesson.


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Moral of the Story

The tale of the dove and her chicks is not just about survival in a garden—it is a reflection of life itself. As long as the garden owner depended on others, he achieved nothing. Promises without action are empty, and those who wait endlessly for help may be left disappointed. But the moment he turned to self-reliance, the moment he chose to trust his own abilities, success became inevitable.

Self-reliance is the root of true strength. Friends, family, and companions may offer words of support, but in the end, it is one’s own determination and effort that lead to accomplishment.

The dove’s wisdom saved her children. Her understanding reminds us that while trust in others has its place, the greatest trust must always be in ourselves.