Once upon a time there was a wood
with many trees and bright flowers in which butterflies shimmered in hundreds
of colours while others were happily perfumed by their sweet nectar.
Sometimes, because of the
glaring rays of the sun, these butterflies were highlighted with gold and
silver colours.
The fairy Sarita, who had recently arrived in the wood was full of
joy at seeing the friendly landscape. She stared at one butterfly with a magic
flapping giving different virtues to each leaf of a tree.
Astonished at the landscape,
the fairy Sarita went next to other butterflies and asked:
_Why are those trees so
beautiful?
The butterfly Rosa, who was the guardian of the whole forest,
replied with her nice smile:
_ Their beauty comes from
their leaves which the tree grows from human virtues.
_ What
are virtues? _ inquired fairy Sarita
with curiosity.
_ Virtues are those things that make people better every day! _
revealed butterfly Rosa.
As she thought about it, the
fairy Sarita asked to be taught how to grow a virtue tree. That´s why butterfly Rosa gave her some leaves from
which she was to select a few.
At that very moment, fairy Sarita
chose the virtues of dignity and responsibility for the roots. The virtue of integrity for the trunk. The virtues of friendship and respect
for the branches.
And finally, virtues such as self-control,
dialogue, effort, work, courage, self-esteem and entertainment for the leaves of the tree.
As the virtue tree was about
to grow she decided to go to play. She spread a circle of light for other
butterflies to come to it while she was flying freely across the wood.
Immediately, all the insects
flew down into the valley and made a circle on the verdant grass and danced
happily. Among songs and music the fairy Sarita learned how to dance the
butterfly waltz.
While she was swaying and
dancing, she approached her virtue tree, and she burst into tears when she
discovered that her tree was the only one that didn’t blossom. As butterfly Rosa
saw the fairy crying she went to her and explained:
_Your tree has no flowers
because among all the virtues you didn’t choose the most important.
_ And what is the most important?
_ asked fairy S in tears.
_ The
most important virtue is love! _ confessed the butterfly Rosa.
Having heard this, the fairy Sarita flew swiftly
towards her tree and put the love virtue on it, and immediately, the virtue
tree started to grow.
This event clearly showed
fairy S the paramount importance of all the values, but first and foremost….
the love virtue.
Author:
Maria Abreu
With all gentle and quiet
behaviour, taking whatever comes, putting up with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2)
