29/12/2025
THE TORTOISE AND THE DONKEY’S BURNT HOUSE
In the village bush, an old donkey had built a house with his own hooves.
One night, a fire swept through the village.
His house… reduced to ashes.
The next morning, Mbeku the Tortoise came to see him.
The donkey sat by the blackened ground, wailing like hope itself had left him.
Mbeku moved closer.
“Tell me, Donkey… who built the house?” he asked.
“I did,” the donkey said quietly.
“I planted every post, shaped every wall. It was my work. I built it.”
Mbeku’s eyes narrowed.
“So… now it is burnt down. It can never be rebuilt?”
The donkey shook his head slowly.
“It can be rebuilt…
but can’t you see? It means starting all over again. Sweat, patience… all gone. That is the cost.”
Mbeku looked down.
“I think… it would have been better if you were burnt with the house.”
The donkey bristled.
“What?! Why would you wish me bad?”
Mbeku sighed, voice low.
“I didn’t wish you bad.
But the longer you weep over the burnt house, the more obvious it is… that we lost you too in the flames.
The house is gone, yes… but if life itself dies in grief, then all is lost.”
The donkey’s eyes softened.
“Then… what do you want me to do?”
Mbeku looked at him steadily.
“To either keep crying while the house remains dust…
or dust yourself, lift your hands, and start building a bigger, stronger house.”
The donkey stayed silent for a moment.
Then, slowly, he rose.
He cleared the ashes.
He began again.
So… what’s that house that has burnt in your life?
Will you stay in the ashes… or will you rise and build something stronger?
This is Hon.Koech Cornelius
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