A Little Little Golden Book
Copyright 1952
Tawny Scrawny is a lion with an insatiable appetite for the
other forest animals. The frightened
animals convince a rabbit to talk to the lion, thinking it will be devoured,
thus giving them another day free from Tawny Scrawny’s jaws. The rabbit has other plans, though. He convinces the lion to come back home with
him to his large family. Along the way,
they gather items for the rabbit family’s carrot stew.
At the end of the day, Tawny Scrawny’s goal is just within
reach. It was difficult to deal with the
rabbit’s dawdling, but with the mantra “five fat sisters and four fat brothers”
going through his head, he finds the patience to wait for his supper. Finally, they arrive at the rabbits’ home and
Tawny Scrawny prepares for his dinner of 10 fat rabbits.
But… those clever rabbits find a way to hold him off long
enough to cook that delicious carrot stew.
In fact, they hold him off so long and show so much hospitality that a
friendship forms! Then Tawny Scrawny
feasts on so much carrot stew and berries that he couldn’t possibly eat the
rabbits. They were all so full and happy
they even enjoyed an after dinner sing along!
No longer does the lion see those rabbits as dinner. Now, he sees them as companions and
friends. Tawny Scrawny wouldn’t chase
and eat his friends! All the animals
can now relax because the rabbit family’s hospitality has won the lion over.
Is it possible that this strategy may work for us at
times? Do you have an enemy – someone
who you feel is about to “devour” you?
Perhaps a generous helping of hospitality and kindness will keep you
away from their jaws. Add in a little
homemade carrot stew and after dinner sing-along, and who know? Maybe a friendship will even form!
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