A Short Story with a Moral – A Box Full of Kisses
Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. The family had little money and he became furious when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Regardless of that, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said: "This is for you, daddy."
The man was embarrassed because of his hasty reaction earlier, but his fury was unleashed again when he saw that the box was empty, then shouted at his daughter: "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there has to be something in it?"
The little girl looked at him with tears in her eyes and cried: "Oh, daddy, it's not empty at all. I put kisses in the box. They're all for you, Dad."
The father was stunned. He hugged his daughter and asked for her forgiveness.
Unfortunately, soon after that, an accident took the child away. The father kept the golden box by his bed for many years, and whenever he became disheartened, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of his child.
This story reveals powerful and emotional themes that touch on human relationships and values in life.
Material vs. emotional value: The man initially reacts violently to his daughter's actions because of the material value of the wrapping paper. This reaction emphasizes the accumulation of preferences to material values of the society over emotional ones.
Innocence and purity of childhood: The daughter, despite the punishment, shows unconditional love to her father by giving a box full of "kisses". This accentuates the innocence and ability of children to love unconditionally.
Regret and forgiveness: The father realizes his mistake and faces his own feelings of regret. This moment of forgiveness emphasizes the importance of humility and forgiveness in interpersonal relationships.
The shortness of life and eternity of love: The tragic death of the child gives the story a sad twist as an example of how short life is. The father holding the box of kisses as a memory symbolizes the enduring bond and love that outlives even death.
The moral about the true value in life: The story ends with a powerful message about the true value in life - love. It reminds us that in the end, emotional connections and moments of love and understanding are more valuable than any material goods.