The Lion and the Mouse – An Interesting Moral Story for Kids

This story is one of many childhood stories, which taught us valuable life lessons. It tells a story of a friendship between two strangers then their act of kindness that went on to inspire the world how even the most unlikely of creatures can have a great impact. Let us dive into the story and the wisdom we can get from it: 

Once upon a time, in the ancient vast jungle, lived a great lion, powerful and majestic. The lion was the king of the jungle and all the animals were afraid of him, his claws and the deep roar he produced. He would freely roam through the forest so full of pride that no other creature stood a chance against him. One fine day, he went out in search of food, felt sleepy and went to lie under the shade of a large tree and a mouse ran across him.

The Encounter Between the Lion and the Mouse

As the tiny mouse hurried across the forest, she stepped on the lion’s paws accidentally. The lion woke up from his deep sleep, and grabbed the tiny mouse under his paw. The mouse was startled from the fact that she had disturbed the most fearsome animal of the whole jungle. 

He picked up the mouse with effort and began to chuckle. "How dare you interrupt my sleep, such a small creature!. You don't know who I am. My one paw is enough to crush you."

Fearful but resourceful, the mouse spoke up, “I beg you to spare my life. Oh great lion! I was not trying to disturb you, I assure you! If you set me free today, I will surely help you in the future.”

The lion was already amused at the concept of such a small mouse coming to his rescue. “Why on earth would someone as tiny as you help a king as great as I?” he pondered. However, something unusual happened on that day. He let the mouse off the hook. “You are allowed to leave,” he said with a smirk. “But don’t hold your breath thinking that you would come to my aid!”

Once the mouse was freed from the hold of his paw, she breathed a sigh of relief as if she had been forgiven. She looked around, then promptly dashed out, ready to do a little chase. When she had evaded the bushes, she said to herself somewhere in the future I am going to find a way to repay the lion.

The Lion in Trouble

Thrilling, isn’t it? After a few weeks, the mighty lion was again on the prowl in the jungle. He was certain of his superiority and how strong he was in comparison to others. Even in the distance, he did see some hunters but looked at them with disinterest as he knew they were no harm to him.

But the hunters had set up a scheme to trap the lion. They had gathered a tough looking net, placing it high amongst the trees for daring animals to leap over. Fooled by his superiority, the lion walked right into the trap. As he attempted to move further, the cords came taut against his limbs and torso – enclosing him within the strong net. The lion roared angrily and in frustration, writhing unduly all over, but each time he attempted to extricate himself from the net, it folded in further.

The lion, who usually preys on the weak, became a prey himself, terrified and stuck in the net. The lion had exhausted all possible means of getting out of the net. After a few hours, the lion got worn out and began to lose his focus.

The Mouse to the Rescue

Just in the moment that the lion had accepted his defeat, a not – so – big character came into his view. It was the mouse he had let go of a few weeks ago. She, who had been previously released by the lion, listened and heard the lion’s terrible screams from afar. Rushing to the spot, she discovered the lion in misery.

The little mouse was grateful to the lion and said, “Don’t be afraid, great lion! I know that I promised to help you one day. So, the day has come.”

The lion’s breathing slowed and he knelt down and could only watch in surprise at what the little fellow began doing. The tiny mouse started to bite the thick cords of the net with her sharp little teeth. Slowly and gradually, the mouse was able to cut through the net. Lo and behold, the lion was out of that mesh.

The lion rose, and looked at the big mouse gratefully. “Thank you very much,” the mighty lion said to the tiny mouse “Thank you for saving me. I never thought that one as small as you could ever help someone as strong as I am, but you have proved me wrong today," he smiled.

The mouse beamed, “Yes, remember that little things make big impacts. I desired to repay the favour you did to me. I’m quite happy that I could help you when you needed it the most.”

The Moral of the Story

The fable of The Lion and the Mouse carries a powerful message: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."  In the past, the lion had believed that due to his great stature, no one including a mouse could assist him, now he was able to practise the principle even towards an unreasonable mouse. The fable also teaches us that strength, power, and supporting each other is not by size and greatness, instead it is humility that is the greatest virtue.

Lessons from The Lion and the Mouse

1. Gift of Kindness: The first act of kindness shown by the lion was the saving of the mouse’s life and that noble deed helped get him rescued later. So, children understand that even small influences that kind or talk with people appreciate have long lasting significance. When we help others it engenders useful relations that may be rendered back in the most unexpected manners.
2. Dare Not Look Down on Others: The mouse surprised the lion by freeing him from the trap. The lion however thought that bigger the size, bigger the might. In this case, however, the mouse succeeded and demonstrated not all to be underestimated regardless of the dimensions. This encourages children on the other hand not to jump into conclusions about a person simply because of what they see or think is their capability. Each person in this world has something to offer and in most cases, the people we expect the least from come in their greatest aid.
3. Helping Others Cheerfully Rewards: The little animal did not forget about the fashion’s generosity that he had been shown in chronological order and made every effort to compensate for it. This is to say doing right may include assisting other persons and it goes to make a good cycle of good patterns. It is normal to repay a good deed when one has received one from another and that is the case in most situations.
4. Never Give Up: The mouse is willing to assist, even to the extent of gnawing through strong cords despite the force of the angry lion; this teaches children a lesson on determination. Even the most daunting tasks seem easy if done with perseverance. 

The Value of Fables for Children

Besides being a good bedtime story for kids, The Lion and the Mouse is one of the educational stories for kids. It offers moral lessons which are easily understood and children are able to grasp and even implement them. If we look carefully, stories which revolve around animals as the central characters and involve very basic concepts, are not only entertaining to children but can also impart the importance of being good to others and working for a common good and the consequences of failing to do so.

Thus, for parents and educators, reading children’s stories with lessons such as this one builds the child’s character and reinforces the right values. These stories provide an avenue in which children are able to judge themselves and how they behave to other people in the society, making it a timeless tool of instilling virtue in children.

The story of the Lion and the Mouse is one of the most famous and often told stories to generations of children with a valuable lesson in humility and not to look down on others. Like any other classic moral tale, it tells people, no matter how tiny or great you are, you are capable of transforming the world.