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Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

498- An Ant Amid the Snow

 

St-Takla.org Image: Fire ants, ant, lead by example - "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6). صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: نمل ناري، نملة، القدوة - "اِذْهَبْ إِلَى النَّمْلَةِ أَيُّهَا الْكَسْلاَنُ. تَأَمَّلْ طُرُقَهَا وَكُنْ حَكِيمًا" (سفر الأمثال 6: 6).

The ant, Vigor, went on storing food in a hole all day long in order to find enough food in the winter. On the other hand, the grasshopper, Amusement, went on singing all the summer doing nothing else since it produces a sound while flying. Suddenly, there was a snowy storm. The ant, Vigor, went to its hole which is full of food. She closed the door and stayed with her family to rest and eat. She heard knocks at the door. She opened to find Amusement in front of her trembling.

“What do you want?”

“To dwell and eat with you.”

“Why didn’t you store food during the summer?”

“I was busy singing all the summer.”

Vigor looked at Amusement saying, “You were singing during the summer. Then, dance during the winter.” She shut the door saying, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thess. 3.10).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: نملة وسط الثلوج.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep” (Prov. 6.6-9)?

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