Once upon a time there lived a little Red Hen. This little red hen was ambitious and always tried to do her best. She had many friends on the farm where she lived.
One day the little red hen decided to plant some seeds so she could grow wheat to make bread. She asked her friends, “who will help me plant the seeds?” “Not I,” said the pig. “Not I,” said the cow. “Not I” said the dog. “Not I” said the ity bity mouse with a squeak. “Then I will plant it myself.” And so she did.
Time passed and the wheat grew tall and the little red hen set out to cut the wheat. With a loud voice she asked, “who will help me cut the wheat?” “Not I ” said the duck with a quack. “Not I” said the cat. “Not I” said the ity bity mouse with a squeak. And so the little red hen worked hard all day and into the night and cut the wheat.
The next day the little red hen headed out to take the wheat to the mill to be ground into flour. As she passed the barn she said, “who will help me take this wheat to the mill?” “Not I” said the horse. “Not I” said the pig with a grunt. “Not I” said the dog. “Not I” said the ity bity mouse with a squeak. And so the little red hen hurried on her way to the mill.
The next day the little red hen baked the bread and the aroma filled the air with the sweetest smell. All the farm animals followed the smell and found the little red hen eating the bread. The little red hen asked the farm animals, “Who will help me eat this delicious bread?” All at once the farm animals cried out, “I will, I will, I will!” “No” shouted the little red hen! “I will eat the bread because I did all the work.
Rarely does a single person accomplish great things without some form of assistance and encouragement from another person. God put us in families so that we could help each other. We can do our part to assist our friends and neighbors. Serving others has brought great joy and peace into my life even during difficult times! When asked to help we might do ourselves and others a favor by shouting, “I will!”
Doing Our Part Brings Great Rewards!
by Tanya Christiansen