Once upon a time, a poor man decided to buy a donkey. He had no stable income, no proper work, but he thought that by buying a donkey, he could start carrying goods for people and earn some money.
So, one day, he went to the marketplace and bought a donkey. Full of joy, he brought it home, fed it well, and the very next day, he tied a cart to the donkey. He was thrilled, imagining all the money he would make.
But the donkey was not used to pulling heavy loads. The moment the man shouted “Move!” the donkey froze. It refused to take even a single step. The man grew furious. He picked up a stick and began beating the donkey. After several blows, the donkey finally moved. But as soon as it stopped, the man beat it again. This became a cycle — the donkey would not move unless it was beaten.
The man thought to himself: This donkey is nothing but trouble, but I have no choice. Without it, I cannot earn.
Every morning and evening, the man would tie goods onto the donkey’s cart. Every afternoon, he would drag it to the marketplace, beating it to keep it moving. People laughed at him, whispering, “Look at this man! Instead of helping his donkey, he only knows how to punish it.”
One day, while on his way to the market, the donkey suddenly stopped near a police van parked at the roadside. The man became furious. He beat the donkey so harshly that the police officers came out. Seeing the donkey’s condition, they punished the man. They made him pay for the damages and scolded him for his cruelty.
Embarrassed, the man dragged his donkey back home. That night, he sat quietly and realized something important: “Perhaps the donkey is not the problem. Maybe I am. Maybe my lack of wisdom is the reason I suffer.”
The next morning, instead of beating the donkey, he tried kindness. He fed it fresh grass, spoke gently, and guided it carefully. To his surprise, the donkey walked forward without resistance. Day by day, the donkey grew healthier and more obedient.
But the man’s greed returned. He overloaded the cart with far too many goods. The poor donkey stumbled, fell to the ground, and collapsed. The man panicked, thinking his donkey had died. But when he sprinkled water, the donkey slowly stood again.
From that day forward, the man finally understood:
“A donkey is not meant to be treated with cruelty. If you want work done, patience and wisdom are better than anger and force.”
Reflection
The story of the stubborn donkey is not just about an animal. It is about life itself. Often, we try to force things to happen through anger, shortcuts, or pressure. But true success comes with patience, consistency, and understanding.
✨ Moral: Don’t beat life into submission. Guide it with wisdom, and it will move forward for you.
