The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale That Teaches Us the True Meaning of Happiness

Once upon a time in the beautiful land of Armenia, there lived a sparrow named Aram. He was known to be the greediest sparrow in the entire kingdom. Aram always wanted more food, more shiny things, and more attention from the other birds. He would fly from one tree to another, stealing nuts and berries, never satisfied with what he had.

One sunny morning, as Aram was flying through the enchanted forests of Armenia, he stumbled upon a hidden cave. Curiosity overcame his greed as he decided to explore the mysterious cave. Inside, he discovered an old man with a long white beard, sitting cross-legged on the ground.

The old man introduced himself as Arakel, a wise sage who had been meditating in the cave for centuries. Aram, eager to share his desires for more, started asking Arakel for worldly possessions - diamonds, gold, and never-ending meals. But the wise sage simply smiled and said, "Dear sparrow, true happiness lies not in material wealth, but in contentment and gratitude. Let me tell you a story that will teach you the importance of these virtues."

The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale

by Lucine Kasbarian (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	13178 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	32 pages

FREE

The old sage began narrating the tale of The Greedy Sparrow, a story passed down through generations in Armenia. It was a story about a sparrow named Anahit, who was just as greedy as Aram. Anahit always wanted more than she had and never shared her blessings with others.

One summer, when food was scarce, Anahit found a hidden field of wheat. She quickly gathered as much grain as she could carry, filling her beak to the brim. Seeing Anahit's find, a hungry squirrel approached her, pleading for a handful of wheat. But Anahit, too caught up in her greed, ignored the squirrel and flew away, leaving him hungry and disappointed.

Days turned into weeks, and Anahit's greed only grew. But the more she accumulated, the more empty she felt inside. One day, she encountered a wise owl who asked her, "Dear sparrow, why do you collect so much while others starve? True happiness is found in sharing and giving, not in hoarding for oneself."

Anahit realized the truth in the owl's words and decided to change her ways. She returned to the hidden wheat field and shared all her grains with the hungry animals. The squirrel, whom she had ignored before, was overjoyed with her generosity. From that day on, Anahit made it her mission to help others and find fulfillment in spreading happiness.

As Arakel finished the tale, Aram sat there, reflecting on the lessons learned. He realized that the pursuit of material possessions only leads to an everlasting desire for more, leaving one feeling empty and unfulfilled. True happiness, as shown by Anahit, was found in sharing, kindness, and appreciating what one already had.

From that day forward, Aram vowed to change his ways. He started by giving away some of the stolen nuts and berries to the other birds. As their gratitude poured in, he felt a warmth and joy that he had never experienced before. Aram understood that true happiness cannot be measured by the amount of treasures one possesses, but rather by the love, friendship, and goodwill we share with others.

And so, our once greedy sparrow became the most beloved bird in all of Armenia. Aram's transformation inspired others to follow his footsteps, creating a community where acts of generosity and compassion were abundant. The kingdom thrived, and the spirit of happiness filled the air, all thanks to the valuable lessons learned from The Greedy Sparrow.

In , The Greedy Sparrow is a timeless Armenian tale that teaches us the importance of contentment, gratitude, and sharing. It reminds us that material possessions may bring temporary pleasure, but true fulfillment is found in selflessness and kindness. Let us all strive to be like Anahit and Aram, spreading happiness and making the world a better place for everyone.

The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale

by Lucine Kasbarian (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	13178 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	32 pages

FREE

2013 Nautilus Awards Silver Winner in the Children's Picture Books Category

Once there was a sparrow who caught a thorn in his foot. When a kind baker removes the thorn, the sparrow tricks her into giving him some bread. Each time the sparrow meets new people, he tricks them out of bigger and better things. Will the sparrow’s greed get the best of him? Through this endearing Armenian folktale illustrated with mixed media, readers will learn that people who engage in dishonest or selfish behavior may end up losing whatever they gained because of that behavior. The Greedy Sparrow was selected as a 2012 Honor Book by the Storytelling World Awards Committee.