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The King's Listening Lesson

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a wise and kind-hearted king. One sunny morning, the king decided to stroll through his kingdom and talk to his subjects. As he walked down the streets, he noticed a poor person sitting quietly by the road.

A colorful A cheerful king with a golden crown and a kind smile.dom with a cheerful king and a humble A humble individual with tattered clothes and a gentle demeanor..

"Greetings, good person!" greeted the king with a warm smile. "Tell me, what can I do to bring happiness to your life?" The poor person looked up and said, "Your Majesty, if it pleases you, I would like wheat on a chessboard. But I need only one wheat on the first square, then double that amount on each subsequent square." The king was intrigued by this request and saw it as an opportunity to teach an important lesson.

A A cheerful king with a golden crown and a kind smile. and a A humble individual with tattered clothes and a gentle demeanor. engaging in a conversation beside a chessboard.

The king summoned his royal mathematician and commanded him to fulfill the poor person's wish. The mathematician worked tirelessly, placing a single wheat grain on the first square, two grains on the second, and continued doubling the amount for each subsequent square. But as the squares went by, the number of grains grew bigger and bigger!

A A wise mathematician with spectacles and a thoughtful expression. placing wheat grains on a chessboard while the A cheerful king with a golden crown and a kind smile. and the A humble individual with tattered clothes and a gentle demeanor. observe in astonishment.

Eventually, the impossible task became clear to everyone. The king turned to the poor person and said, "I see now that the wheat grains on a chessboard would be more than all the grains in the entire kingdom. Your request has taught me the importance of truly listening and understanding the weight of each word spoken." The poor person nodded, grateful to have made the king realize this valuable lesson.

The A cheerful king with a golden crown and a kind smile. and the A humble individual with tattered clothes and a gentle demeanor. having a thoughtful conversation.

From that day forward, the king became known for his exceptional listening skills. He understood that sometimes, the simplest requests carried the greatest meaning. The poor person's wish for wheat on a chessboard reminded the king to listen attentively and consider the true implications of every word.

The A cheerful king with a golden crown and a kind smile. wearing a golden crown, surrounded by people while attentively listening.

And so, dear children, let this story remind you of the power of a listening ear. Like the wise king, pay attention to what others say, for even in the smallest requests lie valuable lessons. The End.

A cozy bedtime scene with a book, a candle, and a sleepy girl.

Reflection Questions

  • Why did the king go for a stroll in his kingdom?
  • What did the poor person request from the king?
  • What lesson did the king learn from the poor person's request?

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