The Wind and the Sun

The Wind and the Sun

(A version of the tale by TheFableCottage.com)

The wind and the sun are having a disagreement.

“I am the most powerful!” says the wind.

“No, I am the most powerful!” says the sun.

“I can blow trees to the ground!” brags the wind.

“I can push ships across the ocean.

I can make hurricanes and tornadoes!”

“Is that right?” replies the sun.

“Well, I can melt all the snow on the mountains.

I can dry up an entire lake.

I can make a sidewalk so hot

that it cooks an egg!”

Just then, they see a man walking along the road in his winter jacket .

“Let’s have a contest to see who is more powerful,” says the wind.

“Whoever can remove the man’s jacket first wins.”

The sun agrees.

The wind goes first.

He blows a gust of cold wind at the man.

The man shivers and zips up his jacket.

“Brrr! What a cold and windy day!”

It starts to rain.

The wind blows even harder and turns the rain into snow.

“Well look at that! It’s snowing!” says the man.

“Snow wasn’t in the weather forecast today...”

He pulls his hood over his head.

The wind blows his strongest gust towards the man,

but the man’s jacket stays on.

"Hmm. It’s a bit fresh today…” he says.

“A winter storm must be coming..."

He zips the jacket higher to cover his nose.

“Gah! This is impossible,” says the wind.

He stops blowing.

“My turn!” says the sun.

First the sun shines enough to stop the snow.

The man unzips his hood.

Then the sun pulls the clouds apart and gently shines down on the man.

Suddenly, it is a beautiful spring day.

“Wow. The weather sure is strange around here!” says the man.

He unzips his jacket.

The sun gently wiggles her fingers and increases the temperature.

“What strange weather. Now it feels like summer!”

the man says as he begins to sweat.

"Goodness me, it's so hot!"

He removes his winter jacket.

He lies down on the grass for a nap in the warm sun.

"I win!" says the sun, beaming.

Moral:

Sometimes warmth and gentleness can achieve more than strength and force.