
The Tale of Leo the Lion and the Power of Calm
Verse: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” — James 1:19
In a beautiful, sunlit forest, there lived a lion named Leo. Leo was known far and wide for his magnificent mane and his powerful roar. But despite his regal appearance, Leo had a problem. He often got very angry, very quickly. Little things would make him roar in frustration, scaring the other animals in the forest.
The Incident
One day, while Leo was taking his morning walk, he saw a little squirrel named Sammy happily gathering acorns. Sammy was humming a cheerful tune, completely absorbed in his work. Leo decided to join Sammy and see if he could help.
“Hi, Sammy! Can I help you gather some acorns?” Leo asked.
Sammy, a bit nervous about Leo’s reputation, hesitated but then nodded. “Sure, Leo. That would be nice.”
As they worked together, Leo accidentally knocked over Sammy’s pile of acorns. Sammy’s carefully collected acorns scattered everywhere. Sammy sighed, “Oh no, my acorns!”
Instantly, Leo’s face turned red with anger. “Why did you put them so close to my paws?” he roared, making Sammy tremble.
The Wise Owl
Ollie the Owl, who was perched on a nearby tree, saw the whole incident. He flew down and gently landed between Leo and Sammy. “Leo,” Ollie said calmly, “do you remember what the Bible teaches us about anger?”
Leo, still fuming, shook his head. “I don’t care right now, Ollie. I’m too mad!”
Ollie nodded understandingly. “I understand you’re angry, but let’s take a moment to listen to what God’s Word says. In James 1:19, it says, ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.'”
Leo took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Ollie continued, “Getting angry quickly doesn’t help anyone, Leo. When we’re slow to anger, we can think more clearly and act kindly, just as God wants us to.”
Learning to Calm Down
Leo sat down and took another deep breath. He looked at Sammy, who was nervously watching him. “I’m sorry, Sammy. I didn’t mean to knock over your acorns or scare you with my roar.”
Sammy smiled shyly. “It’s okay, Leo. Thank you for apologizing.”
Ollie nodded approvingly. “That’s better, Leo. When you feel anger bubbling up inside you, try to pause and take a deep breath. Think about what James 1:19 says. Being slow to anger helps us respond with love and kindness.”
Leo nodded. “I’ll try, Ollie. I don’t want to be known as the angry lion anymore.”
A New Reputation
From that day on, Leo worked hard to control his anger. Whenever he felt himself getting upset, he would remember Ollie’s words and the Bible verse. He would take a deep breath and try to listen and speak calmly. The other animals in the forest noticed the change in Leo. They started to see him as a kind and helpful friend rather than a frightening lion.
One day, Sammy came up to Leo with a big smile. “Leo, you’ve become so much calmer. I like the new you!”
Leo grinned. “Thank you, Sammy. I’m trying to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, just like the Bible says.”
Conclusion
Leo the Lion learned that controlling his anger made him a better friend and a happier lion. By remembering the wisdom of James 1:19, we too can learn to manage our anger and live in peace with others. Let’s all try to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, showing God’s love in everything we do.
Leave a Reply