Selfishness may end friendship

Lalita and Krishna were good friends, and they always did everything together. There was just one problem: Lalita did not like to share anything at all. Each time Krishna would ask to use her computer, or play with her doll or even to share her sandwich, Lalita would tell her NO. Krishna always felt bad, but she was used to not having much, so she didn’t let it bother her too much.

Krishna’s mother was the cook at the village clinic, so she didn’t have as much money as other people would have. She always felt bad that she was not able to give her daughter all the nice things that she would want to give her but she was happy that her daughter was a contented child.

One day at school Krishna saw Lalita crying. She asked her what was the matter, and she told her she had no lunch because her mother had lost her job. She would not be able to buy her all the nice things she used to, because now she had to make sure that they had everything they needed first. Lalita’s father used to work in a factory but he had gotten ill so he could not work anymore.

Krishna felt sorry for Lalita because today she did not have any lunch. Krishna looked at the small parcel of food she had, and thought about all the times when Lalita had been so mean with her things. She was about to walk away when she asked her instead if she wanted to have some of her lunch. Krishna’s mother had always taught her to be kind to everyone, even if they weren’t kind to you.

Lalita was very grateful for the lunch and thanked Krishna for sharing. Every day after that when Krishna went over to her house, Lalita would always let her take a turn first with her games. She would always remember how much kindness she had shown her when she didn’t deserve it.

 

Anyone can lose a friend by being selfish, but always remember that there will come a time when you will need that friend who is no longer there. Place value on people, not things.