A wise, old fable that teaches the powerful effects of kindness compared to being mean and forceful. Illustrates the results of both. This short story can be used as an attention-getter. 
There’s an old saying that goes “You can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar.” As a child I remember wondering what exactly that meant and why would anyone want to catch flies when a fly swatter does a perfectly good job getting rid of them.
Now that I am older and wiser, I have come to understand the real meaning of that saying as I have come to experience it firsthand. If you want people to like you and in some cases, do what you want, you have to treat them with kindness and flattery; being rude and impolite gets you nowhere!
Sounds so simple, but how many times have we let our emotions get the best of us and we fly off the handle and find ourselves roaring like a lion?
Do we think that if we yell loud enough and are rude enough that the other person will immediately see how wrong they are, humble themselves, and kiss the ground we walk on? Sorry, but that won’t ever happen.
Recently, I heard an old fable that teaches this important lesson. It goes like this…
GENTLENESS VS FURY
The sun and the wind quarreled about which one was the stronger. The wind said, “I’ll prove I am. See the old man down there with the coat? I can get that coat off of him quicker than you can.”
So the sun went behind a cloud and the wind blew until it was almost a tornado, but the harder it blew the harder the old man clutched his coat to him.
Finally, the wind calmed down and gave up. Then the sun came out from behind the clouds and smiled kindly on the old man.
Presently he mopped his brow and pulled off his coat. The sun then told the wind that gentleness and friendliness were always stronger than fury and force.
The use of gentleness and friendliness is demonstrated by people every day who have learned firsthand that you can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar. Think of how much more we could accomplish in this world if everyone treated each other with a little more kindness. Who doesn’t enjoy it when someone is kind to them?
I hope we will each stop and think before using fury and force, and instead proceed with gentleness and friendliness. Watch the outcome be even better than we expected!
Yours Truly,
P.S. Stories are a powerful way to teach gospel principles. The Savior is a great example of this as the scriptures are filled with stories and parables that He taught during His ministry. Be sure you are kept aware of all the newest short stories that are shared here in Melanie’s Library by signing up for inspiring resources to be delivered right to your inbox! Sign up today 🙂
