The Selfish Giant

Once upon a time, in a beautiful garden surrounded by high walls, there lived a selfish giant. He had a magnificent garden, filled with beautiful trees and flowers, but he did not allow any children to play there. One day, he returned from a long journey to find a group of children playing in his garden. Furious, he chased them away and built a high wall to keep them out.
As a result, winter came and stayed in the garden all year round. The trees stopped blooming, and the flowers died. The giant was miserable and lonely, with no one to share his garden with. One day, he heard the sound of a bird singing, and it led him to a tree filled with blossoms. The giant realized that spring had finally come back to his garden.
He then saw a small boy who had been left behind by the other children. The giant was moved by the boy’s tears and decided to help him. He lifted him onto the tree so he could pick some blossoms, and when the other children came back, he allowed them to play in his garden.
From that day on, the giant’s garden became a place of happiness and joy. The children played there every day, and the giant was no longer lonely. He had learned the importance of generosity, kindness, and the joy of sharing. The giant’s heart grew warmer, and he felt happier than he had ever been before.
Years went by, and the giant grew old and weak. One day, he saw the small boy who had brought joy back into his life. The boy had wounds on his hands and feet, and the giant realized that he was looking at Jesus Christ. The giant understood that the child had come to take him to heaven, and he was grateful for the joy that the child had brought into his life.
The giant’s body was found lying peacefully under the tree, and the children saw that his face had softened into a smile. They knew that he had gone to join the children in heaven, and they were grateful for the joy that he had brought into their lives.

Moral

The story of The Selfish Giant teaches several morals and lessons, including:
1. Generosity brings joy: The giant’s selfishness and refusal to share his garden with others led to a barren and lonely existence. When he finally opened his heart and allowed children to play in his garden, he experienced happiness and joy.
2. Kindness is rewarding: The giant’s act of kindness towards the little boy who was too small to climb the tree resulted in a lifelong friendship and the gift of eternal spring in his garden.
3. Greed leads to misery: The giant’s selfishness and greed caused him to lose the beauty and joy of his garden, leaving him in a dark and desolate place.
4. Sharing is caring: The story emphasizes the importance of sharing with others, whether it be material possessions, time, or kindness. It shows that sharing can bring people together and create happiness and joy for all.
Overall, the story teaches us to be generous, kind, and to find joy in sharing with others.

Origin of the Story: The story “The Selfish Giant” originated from Ireland.