One morning high above the earth, the Sun and the Wind were having a friendly argument.
“I am stronger than you,” boomed the Wind, swirling around a passing cloud.
“Nonsense,” said the Sun, glowing calmly. “My strength is far greater than yours.”
They went back and forth until the Wind huffed, “Let’s have a contest, then. We’ll see who can make that traveller down there take off his cloak!”
The Sun peered down at the little figure walking along a country road far below. He wore a thick cloak and strode along steadily, humming to himself.
“Very well,” said the Sun. “You go first.”
The Wind puffed out his cheeks and blew with all his might.
WHOOOOSH!
The trees bent, leaves flew, and dust spun into the air. The traveller felt the gusts and immediately clutched his cloak tighter.
The Wind blew harder.
WHOOOOSH!
The man hunched his shoulders, shivering. “Brrr! What dreadful weather!” he muttered, pulling the cloak closer around him.
The Wind howled even harder, rattling branches and whipping the grass. The poor man finally stopped walking just to pull on an extra cloak from his pack.
“Ha!” he grumbled. “That should keep me warm.”
High above, the Wind was running out of breath.
“This isn’t working,” he wheezed.
The Sun chuckled softly. “My turn?”
The Sun began to shine gently, sending down a soft golden warmth.
The traveller loosened his cloak a little.
The Sun beamed brighter. The air grew warmer. The traveller smiled, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow.
He slung the cloak over his arm.
The Sun shone brighter still, filling the road with summer-like heat. The traveller laughed aloud.
“Goodness! It’s hot enough for a swim!” he said, taking off his cloak completely and heading toward a nearby pond.
Up in the sky, the Wind stopped whirling and looked over at the Sun.
“You didn’t even blow once,” said the Wind in amazement.
The Sun glowed gently. “Sometimes strength isn’t about force. Sometimes it’s about kindness.”
And so the Wind learned that day what we can all remember: gentle persuasion, warmth, and patience often succeed where force and anger fail.