The Giraffe and the Tall Tree

On the wide savanna lived a giraffe taller than any other animal in the herd. Every morning she strolled to her favorite acacia tree, stretched her long neck up, and nibbled the fresh green leaves at the very top all by herself — no other animal could reach that high.

Then the dry season arrived, and the leaves on the lower bushes withered away. Only the leaves high in the treetops stayed green. A young zebra foal and a baby warthog wandered beneath the acacia tree, bellies rumbling, gazing longingly up at the green leaves they couldn't reach — but the giraffe was too busy eating to notice them.

As the giraffe lowered her head to walk away, she caught sight of her small friends' hungry eyes. She stopped still, feeling sorry she hadn't noticed sooner, and decided to turn back to the acacia tree.

The giraffe stretched her neck up and gently shook the branches, sending a big pile of fresh green leaves tumbling to the ground. "Eat up," she said to her two friends. "I'm tall enough to gather these for you. You won't go hungry anymore." The zebra foal and baby warthog bounced with joy.

From that day on, whenever the dry season came, the giraffe would stand beneath the tallest tree and shake down leaves so her small friends could always eat alongside her. The whole herd came to lovingly call her "the kind walking tree" of the savanna.

Having more than others isn't just for yourself — it's a chance to share with those who have less.