Life Skills & Value Education – CLASS-VI – UNIT-2 Forgiveness Shows Strength

“Without forgiveness there is no future… if you can forgive you can move on and even help the person you are forgiving to become a better person”

Forgiveness is the process of letting go of negative emotions, such as anger, resentment, and bitterness, towards oneself or others, often in response to a perceived hurt, injustice, or wrongdoing.

The Golden Deer

Once there lived a very beautiful deer in a jungle.

He had golden fur that shone like a bright yellow sun. His horns and hooves had the colour of a rainbow and shone like precious gem stones. His eyes were as blue as sapphire. His appearance could enchant any person. The deer knew that his dazzling appearance made him easily vulnerable, as any man who would see him, would desire to have his beautiful hide on his walls. So, to protect himself from the eyes of human beings, he mostly lived in the thickest parts of the forest.

One day, the golden deer heard the cries of a man, “Help, help, save me!” He saw a man being carried away in the strong rapids of the river, quickly the deer leaped into the river. He grasped the man by his clothes with his jaws and dragged him back to the safety of the banks.

The deer warmed him with his fur, until the man regained enough strength.

“You put your life in danger to save mine. I can’t be grateful to you enough,” said the man to the golden deer. He was bedazzled as he looked at the deer.

The man added next, “You are a magnificent creature and so is your heart. Please allow me to repay you in some way. Tell me how can I serve you?”

I only wish you to make one promise to me. Never tell any human about me. If they knew of my existence, they would come to hunt me for my skin,” said the deer.

“I promise to keep this secret,” said the man. Then he greeted goodbye and set on his journey.

Back in his town, people were absorbed in the mood of celebrations on the eve of the Queen’s birthday. At the palace, the king asked his queen, “My sweet, what do you wish for on this birthday? Gems, ornaments, precious clothes, crowns or jewels, what do you want?”

“I don’t wish any of these. If you wish to get me a present, bring me the most beautiful deer,” replied the queen. The king issued a proclamation to all the hunters in the town:

“Whoever brings the most beautiful deer of the jungles to the King, he will be rewarded with a bag of gold coins and the land.”

When the man who had been rescued by the deer heard about it, he was greatly conflicted.

He could not deceive the deer who saved his life. But he himself struggled with the poverty and could not stop imagining how his life would turn for good, if he revealed about the deer.

After a long fight in his mind, he at last surrendered to his desire for riches. He went to the king and said, “My King, I know about a golden deer. It is the most beautiful deer of the jungle. I can lead you to it.”

The king was very delighted to know this. He gathered some soldiers and set out to find the deer with the man. They reached to the middle of the jungle where the man had met that golden deer. “Your Majesty, this is the point where I had seen that deer. He would be somewhere nearby,” told the man to the king.

Suddenly, the King’s eyes fell on the deer. The sight of the sparkling deer left the king amazed and he was totally wrapped in the desire of obtaining this beautiful creature. The deer noticed that he was being found by the humans. His eyes fell on the man whom he had saved. He thought quickly and leaped in the air. In the spur of a moment he was standing in front of the king.

“You’re a majestic creature and my queen wishes to have you. Today is her birthday and she wishes for the most beautiful deer. You should come with me. You will be looked after very well at the palace,” said the king to the deer.

“Mighty Royal! First I would like to know, how did you come to know about me?” asked the deer.

The king pointed to the man.

“Your majesty, I would like you to know about a wrongdoer here.

And then you decide if I should be taken to your palace,” said the golden deer.

“What do you want to say?” asked the king in confusion. The deer explained firmly,

“I saved this man’s life and now he brings danger to my  life. He even broke his promise to never let anyone know about my existence.”

“Is it right? the King demanded answer from the man. The man shook his head in remorse as he said, “Yes.”

The king grew angry and fitted an arrow to his bow. Turning to the man, he roared, “Such a low man as yours has no right to live.”

The golden deer immediately jumped between the man and the king. “No, My Lord, just stop at once!” he said. “Taking his life is not going to mend his wrong-doings.” The king stopped at what the deer said. “Could you really forgive a man who put your life in danger?” the king asked the deer. “I forgive him,” said the deer. “For these jungles are my home and my life is here. If I can allow you to take me to your palace and leave my life here, I can forgive him as well.”

The King was moved at the deer’s words.” I now understand that I was doing nothing different than this man. I am a sinner, to take someone from its home and keep it in my capture. I hope you would forgive me for my sin. I am not a good king.

I shall renounce my throne,” said the king with guilt in his voice.

“I forgive you too. I only wish for you both is that you learn from your mistakes and never repeat it,” said the deer. “You need not give up your crown to mend your mistakes.

Rather, be a king and preach forgiveness and compassion among all the people.” The king thanked the deer and returned to his kingdom. He told the whole story to the queen. From that day on, the King, the Queen and all the people of his kingdom took up the practice of compassion and forgiveness with their whole hearts.

Benefits of forgiving others:

1.      Emotional liberation: Forgiveness can free individuals from the burden of negative emotions.

2.      Improved relationships: Forgiveness can lead to reconciliation and improved relationships.

3.      Physical health benefits: Chronic unforgiveness has been linked to various health problems, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

4.      Spiritual growth: Forgiveness can be a catalyst for spiritual growth, self-reflection, and personal transformation.

Conclusion Forgiveness is a complex, ongoing process that can have numerous benefits for individuals and relationships. While it can be challenging, forgiveness is often a crucial step towards healing, growth, and liberation.

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