20/02/2025
As the news of the farmer’s death spread through the forest, the baboons and monkeys danced among the trees, beating their chests and chattering with excitement.
“No more running! No more hiding! The maize is ours now!” they cheered.
That very evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, they stormed the maize field, plucking the juiciest cobs, stuffing their mouths, and tossing half-eaten ones aside. They feasted until their bellies were round and full.
Days passed, and the animals grew bolder. They no longer feared humans, so they ventured deeper into the farm, pulling up sweet potatoes, yanking down bananas, and trampling the vegetable garden.
But then, something strange happened. The maize plants, stripped bare, stopped producing. The once-thriving farm became dry and empty. Hunger crept in. The baboons and monkeys, who had always relied on the farmer’s crops, now found themselves searching desperately for food.
One day, an old wise monkey sat on a tree stump, shaking his head.
“We were foolish,” he sighed. “The farmer chased us away, but he also planted the maize. Now that he’s gone, who will grow the food?”
The others fell silent, realizing their mistake. They had celebrated too soon, forgetting that the one who disciplined them also sustained them.
Moral of the story: Not all restrictions are bad. Sometimes, the ones who challenge us also provide for us.
