The Reward of Kindness

The Reward of s

BY: Ubaid

It was a bright Sunday morning, and little Fatima was busy memorizing her favorite story, “The Lion and the Mouse.” She repeated it again and again in her loud, sweet voice.

In the story, a lion was resting under a big tree in the middle of a forest. A naughty little mouse happened to pass by. Seeing the lion asleep, the mouse climbed onto his back and began jumping playfully. The lion woke up, angry and surprised. He caught the mouse in his paw and roared,
“You disturbed my rest! Now I’ll punish you!”

The frightened mouse pleaded, “O King of the Jungle, I made a mistake. Please forgive me!”

The lion’s heart softened. He smiled and let the mouse go. The little creature ran away, promising to return the kindness one day.

A few days later, the same mouse found the lion trapped in a hunter’s net. Without a second thought, he ran to help. Using his sharp teeth, he began biting through the ropes until the lion was free.

The lion thanked the mouse warmly. “You saved my life, little friend.”
The mouse replied with a twinkle in his eye, “You once spared mine, my King. Today, I simply repaid your kindness.”


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Fatima had practiced this story so many times that even her sister Amna could repeat it by heart. When their father returned home from work that evening, Amna laughed and said,
“Papa, Fatima has been memorizing the same story since morning! I think we all remember it now.”

Papa smiled and said, “That’s wonderful! But do you know, kindness is not only found in stories about animals. It happens in real life too. Let me tell you a true story that’s even more inspiring.”

The girls’ eyes lit up with curiosity. They sat down beside him eagerly.


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“A long time ago,” Papa began, “in a country called Scotland, there lived a poor farmer. One day, while he was working in his fields, he suddenly heard a child crying for help. He dropped his tools and ran toward the sound.

There, in a swampy marsh, he saw a young boy struggling for his life. The child was sinking deeper and deeper into the muddy water. The farmer quickly shouted, ‘Don’t move! Stay still, I’ll help you!’

He ran to fetch a long stick and stretched it out toward the boy. ‘Hold this tightly!’ he yelled. With great effort, he pulled the boy out of the mud, saving him from certain death.”

The boy was shivering, covered in dirt from head to toe. The farmer said kindly, “Come to my house. You can wash and rest there.”

But the boy shook his head. “Thank you, sir, but my father must be worried. I need to go home.” And before the farmer could stop him, the boy ran away.


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The next morning, the farmer heard the sound of horses outside. A grand carriage stopped at his simple cottage, and out stepped a well-dressed gentleman. He was the boy’s father—a wealthy nobleman.

“My son told me how you saved his life,” said the nobleman gratefully. “Please accept a reward for your kindness.”

But the humble farmer shook his head. “Sir, I did nothing special. I only did what any man should do. I don’t need any payment for that.”

The nobleman insisted again and again, but the farmer stood firm. Finally, as the nobleman turned to leave, his eyes fell upon a young boy standing nearby—the farmer’s own son.

“Is that your boy?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” replied the farmer proudly. “That’s my son.”

The nobleman smiled. “Then allow me to show my gratitude in another way. Let me take your boy to London. I’ll give him the best education possible.”

After much thought, the farmer agreed. He knew this opportunity could change his son’s life.


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Years passed. The farmer’s son studied hard and became a brilliant scientist. His name was Alexander Fleming—the man who discovered Penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, which went on to save millions of lives.

But the story doesn’t end there.

The boy who was once rescued from the swamp grew up to be Winston Churchill, who later became the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II.

When Churchill fell seriously ill before the war, it was Fleming’s discovery, Penicillin, that saved his life.

The farmer’s kindness had come full circle—his act of goodness had returned to him in the most miraculous way.


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Papa smiled as he finished the story. “So you see, my dear children, good deeds always find their way back to you. Kindness is like a seed—you plant it, and one day it blooms into something beautiful.”

Fatima’s eyes sparkled. “Papa, this story is even better than the lion and the mouse!”

Amna nodded in agreement. “Yes, and only a few names are hard—Fleming, Churchill... but I’ll remember them!”

Papa laughed. “Then I’ll be hearing those names every Sunday now, won’t I?”

“Of course!” Fatima giggled. “Because this time, it’s a true story!”

The room filled with laughter as the evening sun painted the walls golden—its light as warm as the message that lingered in their hearts:

Do good, and good will always find its way back to you.