The Tale of Teachings – A Lesson Forged in Kindness

Once upon a time, in the medieval village of Tusseltoff, life revolved around fire, metal, and hammers. The village was renowned far and wide for its blacksmiths, and nearly every family had a forge blazing at its heart. Crafting tools and weapons wasn’t just a trade—it was a way of life. Men, women, even the young were trained to be smiths, and they competed fiercely to be crowned the best in the land.

But not everyone fit that mold.

Phil Carson was one of the few who didn’t have a talent for smithing. He was of average height and build, but lacked the strength and instinct that defined the village elite. Instead, he worked as a simple cashier, blending into the background of a world dominated by forges and contests. Though not entirely alone, Phil often felt out of place.

Then there was Johnny Wolf, the rising star of Tusseltoff. Confident, talented, and popular, Johnny was everything Phil was not. The two were nearly the same age but polar opposites in every way. Phil, quietly envious and bitter, often imagined how satisfying it would be to beat Johnny at something—anything.

That chance came with the Great Axe Making and Throwing Competition.

Phil had practiced for months, hoping to prove that he could shine too. The morning of the contest, the town square was packed with excited villagers. For the first time, Phil felt a flutter of pride. This was his moment.

Just as he was settling into his spot, Johnny appeared and smirked.

“You’re going down, kid,” he sneered.

Phil kept his head down, choosing silence over confrontation.

The competition began. The clang of steel rang through the air as contestants shaped and sharpened their axes. Phil worked carefully, but his heart skipped a beat when he noticed a small crack in the blade. He hoped it wouldn’t matter.

After the forging came the strength test. Phil held his breath as the judge slammed his axe against a log. To his surprise, it passed. His confidence returned—for a moment.

Next was the throwing round. Contestants were paired to compete side by side. Phil dreaded hearing his partner’s name.

“How about that guy?” the judge pointed.

“I can’t partner with him,” Phil muttered, nodding toward Johnny.

“Too bad,” the judge said. “You don’t have to like him. Just throw.”

They stood silently next to each other. When the judge gave the signal, both hurled their axes. Johnny’s axe hit dead center, prompting cheers. Phil’s axe, however, split in two mid-air, landing in pieces.

Gasps echoed across the crowd. His cracked blade had failed him. Phil came in dead last.

Embarrassed and crushed, Phil quietly left. He didn’t speak a word, just went home and shut himself away for days. His mind was filled with shame. And worse, regret.

When he finally returned to his cashier job, trying to piece himself back together, he faced an unexpected storm—Johnny had been appointed the new manager.

“Hey, idiot. I’m your new boss,” Johnny announced.

Phil’s heart sank. “Why should I care?”

“You shouldn’t. You’re fired.”

Phil tried to argue, but Johnny dismissed him with a sneer. “You’re nothing but a joke.”

With tears in his eyes, Phil left—again.

He spent the next few days in darkness, physically and emotionally. He stopped answering knocks at the door, unsure whether they were friends or more humiliation.

One night, in the depths of his despair, Phil drifted into a dream—or perhaps something more.

He found himself in a place above the clouds, bright and cool like fresh snow. Before him stood a massive celestial kingdom. Among the countless strangers in this ethereal city, one figure stood out: his father, who had passed away years ago.

“Am I dreaming?” Phil asked.

“Perhaps,” his father replied with a gentle smile. “Come, walk with me.”

They entered a house that resembled his childhood home. Sitting at the table, Phil poured out his heart—about the contest, the firing, the humiliation, and his desire for revenge.

“I want to hurt him like he hurt me. But I know that’s wrong,” Phil admitted.

His father nodded thoughtfully. “Then choose the harder path. Be kind.”

Phil scoffed. “You don’t know him. He’s horrible!”

“All the more reason to surprise him,” his father said. “Kindness disarms cruelty.”

As his father spoke, the dream began to fade.

“Just try it,” his father whispered. “You’ll see.”

Phil awoke to a soft beam of sunlight cutting through the window. Something inside him had shifted. He felt lighter. Renewed.

He returned to the shop and, to his surprise, was reinstated. Johnny stood behind the counter, still smug.

“Welcome back,” Johnny said sarcastically.

Phil smiled calmly. “Good morning. How are you today?”

Johnny raised an eyebrow. “What’s your problem?”

“No problem,” Phil replied simply. “Just being polite.”

For days, Phil kept up his kindness—genuine, not forced. Johnny mocked him at first, but over time, something changed. The sharp comments dulled. The tension eased.

One evening, Johnny approached Phil with uncertainty in his voice.

“Hey… you’re not so bad. Want to come to the forge this weekend? I could show you a few things.”

Phil hesitated, then smiled. “Sure. I’d like that.”

At the Tusseltoff community forge, they worked side by side. Phil admired Johnny’s craftsmanship and asked, “Where’d you learn all this?”

“My father. He taught me everything. I miss him a lot,” Johnny replied quietly.

Their connection deepened over weeks of collaboration. They began crafting axes together, merging strength and style. Eventually, they entered another competition—not as rivals, but as a team.

Their bond had grown from something unexpected: forgiveness and understanding.

Moral of the Story:

Kindness is the most powerful tool you can forge. It can turn enemies into friends, and pain into purpose. When you respond to hate with compassion, you open the door to healing—not just for others, but for yourself.