Once upon a time, there was a man who owned a beautiful little dog. He loved the dog dearly. Every day, he would keep it close by his side, feed it delicious food, pat its head lovingly, and even talk to it as if it were a close friend.
The dog, in return, was extremely loyal to its master. Wherever the man went, the dog happily followed behind, wagging its tail with excitement. It would jump around playfully, bark softly for attention, and sit in his lap whenever it got the chance.
The same man also had a donkey.
Unlike the dog, the donkey spent its entire day carrying heavy loads from one place to another. From morning until sunset, it worked tirelessly, bearing sacks, baskets, and whatever burden its owner placed upon its back. By the end of the day, the poor animal would be exhausted.
At night, while the dog rested comfortably near the owner’s room, the donkey was tied alone in a quiet corner of the yard. The master hardly ever looked at it except when there was work to be done.
One evening, the donkey happened to peek through the open window.
What it saw left it completely stunned.
Inside the room, the owner was feeding the dog tasty scraps of meat and warm bread. The little dog sat proudly in the man’s lap, receiving endless pats and affection.
The donkey watched in disbelief.
Its tired heart slowly filled with jealousy.
It thought to itself,
“So this is the secret!
If I do exactly what the dog does, perhaps the master will love me too.”
The idea seemed brilliant.
The donkey spent the whole night thinking about it.
The next morning, as soon as the owner sat down inside his room, the donkey decided it was time.
Without warning, it began braying loudly at the top of its voice.
“HEE-HAW! HEE-HAW!” 🔊😅
Then, trying its best to imitate the dog, it wagged its tail as fast as it could and rushed straight into the master’s room.
Now imagine the scene.
A full-sized donkey suddenly bursting into a room like an overexcited puppy.
The floor shook beneath its heavy hooves.
It jumped.
It kicked.
It bounced around wildly.
In its attempt to act “cute,” it knocked over a table.
A tray of dishes crashed to the floor.
Glass cups shattered everywhere.
A decorative vase flew off the shelf and smashed into pieces.
Curtains were torn.
Chairs fell over.
The room turned into complete chaos within seconds.
But the donkey was not done yet.
Seeing that the dog often climbed into the owner’s lap, the donkey thought this must be the most important part.
So, with all its weight and enthusiasm, it leaped forward and tried to sit in the man’s lap.
The poor owner screamed in terror.
He thought the donkey had gone completely mad.
“Help! Somebody help! The donkey has lost its mind!”
Hearing the shouting, the neighbors and servants rushed inside.
What they saw was unbelievable.
The frightened man was pinned under a donkey, broken dishes were scattered across the floor, and the animal was still braying happily as if expecting praise.
Everyone grabbed sticks and ropes.
Together, they chased the donkey out of the room and beat it until it stumbled back into the yard.
The poor donkey stood outside, bruised, confused, and deeply hurt.
It looked back at the room with sad eyes and thought,
“But… I only did what the dog does every day.
Why was I punished for it?”
After a long silence, the donkey slowly understood the truth.
Not everyone is meant for the same role.
What suits one may not suit another.
The dog was loved for being a dog.
The donkey was valuable for being a donkey.
Its strength, patience, and hard work were its real worth.
Trying to copy someone else had only brought it pain.
Moral
Everyone has their own place, purpose, and identity in life.
Do not imitate others blindly.
Your true strength lies in being yourself.
