The North Wind and the Sun

Long, long ago, high up in the sky, the North Wind and the Sun were chatting away together. But somehow, they began to quarrel over who was the stronger of the two. The North Wind boasted that he was the mightiest, and the Sun only smiled a soft little smile.

Just then, far below on the road, a traveler came walking along, wrapped in a thick, heavy coat. The Sun said, “How about this — whoever can make that traveler take off his coat first shall be the winner.” And the North Wind nodded, sure of himself.

The North Wind went first. He puffed out his cheeks as far as they would go, and blew out a cold, whistling gust — whoooosh. The leaves scattered in a flurry, and dust rose swirling along the road.

But the harder the wind blew, the more tightly the traveler wrapped his coat around himself. “Brrr, where did this icy wind come from?” he said, hunching his shoulders against the chill. He held the edges of his coat fast in both hands.

The North Wind blew harder still, colder and colder. Yet the more he tried, the more the traveler did the very opposite of taking off his coat — he buttoned it up snug and tight. At last the North Wind ran out of breath, and with a tired huff, he stopped.

Now it was the Sun’s turn. The Sun peeked her face out gently from between the clouds. And then, ever so softly, she sent her warm sunlight drifting down.

The cozy warmth stroked the traveler’s shoulders. His body, frozen stiff, began to melt and thaw little by little. Slowly, slowly, the traveler loosened the coat he had held so tight.

The Sun was in no hurry at all. Bit by bit, warmer and warmer, she shone upon the world. Soon tiny beads of sweat began to gather on the traveler’s brow.

“My, my, it’s getting warm now,” said the traveler, and at last he slipped his coat right off. Then he sat down in the cool shade of a tree to enjoy the gentle breeze, his coat draped lightly over his arm.

Watching it all from up above, the North Wind quietly nodded his head. “What force could not do,” he said, “warmth has done.” And the Sun only smiled, kind and tender.

The fierce wind had only made the traveler hold his coat tighter, but the warm sunlight had let him take it off all by himself. The heart that gently warms is stronger than the hand that pushes and forces. And the North Wind held that gentle truth close in his heart.

After that day, the North Wind and the Sun never quarreled again. For now they knew that sometimes the world needs a cool breeze, and sometimes it needs warm sunlight. And so, side by side, they took turns watching over the world, the best of friends.