Once upon a time, the members of the body engaged in a dispute with the Belly. The Hands, Feet, Eyes, Ears, and Mouth complained that while they did all the work, providing the body with the means of life, the Belly lay idle, receiving everything without making any return.
The members argued that the Belly was of no use to the body and that it was unfair for it to be maintained in luxury while the rest of them were overworked. So they decided to strike and stop working.
The Hands refused to carry food to the Mouth, the Mouth refused to receive it, and the Teeth had no work to do. The Legs were unwilling to support the body, and the Eyes could not guide it. In a short time, the whole body began to weaken.
The members soon realized their error, but it was too late. The body was growing numb and faint for want of nourishment. Then the members understood that the Belly in its quiet way was as necessary to the life of the body as the working members. The Belly, although it received all the food, distributed it to the members in the form of blood, providing nourishment and strength to all parts of the body.
The moral of the story is that in a community, each part has its own function, and all must work together for the well-being of the whole. The fable teaches that it is unwise to rebel against those who provide for us, and that we should be grateful for the nourishment and support we receive from others, even if their contributions are not always visible.
Read more 2 minute bedtime stories.
