For this week’s Inspiration I “resurrected” this cute, but meaningful children’s story from the archives of my past posts. It was over seven years ago that I first sent this out. Now, as I look back, I am overwhelmed at what a wonderful experience it has been for me searching out stories each week that first touch me, and then sharing them with you in hopes that you are likewise impacted.
This week’s story is about how the true measure of our acceptance of responsibility is not necessarily determined by the big tasks we tackle, but, rather, in the seemingly less important tasks we encounter and embrace in our daily lives.
The day when the jobs were handed out was one of the most exciting for all the children in the class. It took place during the first week of the school. On that day, every boy and girl was given a job for which they would be responsible for the rest of the school year.
As with everything, some jobs were more interesting than others, and the children were eager to be given one of the best ones. When assigning them, the teacher took into account which pupils had been most responsible during the previous year and those children were the ones who most looked forward to this day. Among them Rita stood out. She was a kind and quiet girl and during the previous year she had carried out the teacher’s instructions perfectly. All the children knew Rita was the favorite to be given the best job of all–to look after this year’s class pet. In past years they included a rabbit, hamsters, mice and this time most everyone, including Rita was wishing for a dog.
But this year there was a big surprise. Each child received one of the normal jobs, like preparing the books or the radio for the lessons, telling the time, cleaning the blackboard. No one was surprised when Rita’s name was called as the one choses as the leader in taking care of this year’s class pet…except this year the class “pet” was very different. The teacher handed Rita a little box containing some sand and one ant. And even though the teacher insisted that this ant was a very special ant, Rita could not help feeling disappointed. Most of her classmates also felt sorry for her. They sympathized with her, and remarked at how unfair it was that she had been given the job of overseeing the care of such a meaningless and boring insect. Even her father became very angry with the teacher, and, in an act of protest, he encouraged Rita to pay no attention to this insignificant pest. However, Rita, who liked her teacher very much, preferred to show the teacher her error by doing something special with a job that engendered so little interest.
“I will turn this little task into something great,” Rita said to herself.
So it was that Rita started investigating all about her little ant. She learned about the different species and studied everything about their habitats and behavior. She modified the little box to make it perfect for the ant. Rita gave the ant the very best food, and it ended up growing quite a bit bigger than anyone had expected.
One day in spring, when they were in their classroom, the door opened, revealing a man who looked rather important. The teacher interrupted the class with great joy, and said,
“Class, this is Doctor Martinez, the head of the Entomology Department at our local university. He has come to tell us a wonderful piece of news, isn’t that right, Doctor?”
“Exactly.” replied the Doctor. “Your teacher has been keeping me informed throughout the year about the care and research that has been done by you for a seemingly common, but actually quite an important member of the ant species. Today, I have the honor of announcing that because of your effort, this class has been chosen to accompany me this summer on a journey to a tropical rainforest, where we will be investigating all kinds of insects. Among all the schools of this region, without doubt it is this one which has best cared for the delicate little ant given to you. Congratulations! I know you will be wonderful assistants!”
That day the school was filled with joy and celebration. Everyone congratulated the teacher for arranging for the raising of this special ant. They also thanked Rita for having been so patient and responsible in overseeing caring for it.
And so it was that the entire class learned from this assignment a very important life lesson: Often, to be rewarded with the more important and desired tasks, you have to know how to be responsible even in what are apparently the smallest of tasks.
And without doubt, it was Rita who was most pleased, having said to herself so many times, “I will turn this little job into something really great!”
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” – Helen Keller
Have an awe-full weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué