Sa isang masaganang bukirin, naninirahan ang manok na kilala sa kanyang kakisigan at malakas na tilaok. Araw-araw, siya’y naglalakad sa paligid, naghahanap ng butil ng mais at iba pang pagkain. Isang araw, nakasalubong niya ang isang uod na dahan-dahang gumagapang sa lupa.
“Tingnan mo ang sarili mo,” sabi ng manok habang tinutukso ang uod. “Napakaliit mo at wala kang silbi! Samantalang ako, pinupuri ng lahat dahil sa aking ganda at boses.”
Ngunit ngumiti lamang ang uod. “Maliit man ako, may silbi rin ako,” sagot niya. “Hindi mo lang nakikita.”
Nagtawanan ang ibang mga manok na nakarinig. “Silbi? Ano naman ang kayang gawin ng isang uod?”
Dumaan ang mga araw, at dumating ang panahon ng tag-ulan. Dahil sa malakas na ulan, maraming mga tanim ang natumba at natabunan ng putik. Nawalan ng pagkain ang mga manok, at nagsimula silang magutom.
Samantala, ang uod ay patuloy na gumapang sa paligid, kinakain ang mga tuyong dahon na natagpuan niya. Dahil dito, nagawa niyang mabuhay sa gitna ng hirap.
Pagkalipas ng ilang linggo, natapos ang tag-ulan, at isang araw, ang manok ay napansin ang isang magandang paru-paro na lumilipad sa paligid. May maliliit itong pakpak na kumikinang sa liwanag ng araw.
“Napakaganda mo! Sino ka?” tanong ng manok.
Ngumiti ang paru-paro at sinabing, “Ako ang uod na tinukso mo noon. Noon, maliit at walang halaga sa iyong paningin, ngunit nagtiyaga ako at naghintay. Ngayon, ako na ang paru-paro.”
Napahiya ang manok at sinabi, “Patawarin mo ako. Ngayon ko lamang naunawaan na bawat nilalang, gaano man kaliit, ay may silbi at halaga.”
Ngumiti ang paru-paro at sagot niya, “Walang anuman. Ang mahalaga, natutunan mo na ang aral.”
Aral:
Huwag husgahan ang isang nilalang dahil lamang sa kanyang itsura o laki. Ang bawat isa, gaano man kaliit, ay may mahalagang papel sa mundo
English Translation
The Caterpillar and the Chicken: A Lesson on Valuing the Small
In a lush farmland, there lived a proud chicken known for his striking appearance and loud crowing. Every day, he would roam around, searching for grains of corn and other food. One day, he came across a worm slowly crawling on the ground.
“Look at you,” the chicken teased the worm. “You’re so tiny and useless! While I am admired by everyone for my beauty and voice.”
The worm simply smiled and replied, “I may be small, but I also have a purpose. You just don’t see it yet.”
The other chickens who overheard laughed. “A purpose? What could a worm possibly do?”
Days passed, and the rainy season arrived. Heavy rains flooded the fields, burying plants under the mud. The chickens couldn’t find food and began to grow hungry.
Meanwhile, the worm continued crawling around, feeding on the dry leaves he could find. Because of this, he survived despite the hardships.
Weeks later, the rains stopped, and one sunny day, the chicken noticed a beautiful butterfly fluttering nearby. Its delicate wings shimmered in the sunlight.
“You’re so beautiful! Who are you?” asked the chicken.
The butterfly smiled and said, “I’m the worm you teased before. Back then, I was small and insignificant in your eyes, but I endured and waited. Now, I am a butterfly.”
The chicken felt ashamed and said, “Forgive me. Only now do I realize that every creature, no matter how small, has value and purpose.”
The butterfly smiled and replied, “It’s all right. What matters is that you’ve learned the lesson.”
Moral of the Story:
Do not judge a creature by its size or appearance. Every being, no matter how small, has an important role to play in the world.