The Little Elephant
One day, a boy went to the circus with his father and saw a huge elephant tied to a tiny stake with a rope.
“Daddy,” the boy asked, “this elephant is so big and strong, and the stake is so small and short. He could set himself free just by taking two steps to the side. Why doesn’t he do it?”
His father replied, “My son, when this elephant was very small—just a baby—he tried to break away from this stake, but he wasn’t strong enough. He tried and tried for months until he finally gave up, believing that it was impossible to break free. Now, he doesn’t try anymore because he doesn’t believe it’s possible. We are the same, my son. Many things happen to us in childhood that we try to change, but then we stop trying. Many of us are still tied with ropes to tiny stakes, just like this big elephant.”
You might be asking yourself, “Does this mean we have to keep trying again and again? When do we learn that certain things are simply impossible and shift our energy to other things?” The answer is: Never! As long as something is important to you, it’s possible, and you should keep trying to achieve it.
Think about Thomas Edison—he tested 1,500 different types of wire before successfully creating the light bulb. 1,500 attempts! Imagine if Edison had thought like many of us do; we would still be in darkness. In a sense, if we don’t think like Edison, we remain in the dark.
I found this elephant story very interesting. It reminds me of the lives of many people today.
When people are trapped in difficult situations for too long and fail to break free after many attempts, they often give up. This happens because they focus too much on their struggles instead of building the strength to overcome them. But no matter how long you feel stuck, freedom will come when you are strong and prepared enough to seize it. Instead of using all your energy worrying about your situation, work hard to develop yourself and grow.
This was exactly what Joseph did in Genesis 39-41. When he was sold into slavery by his own brothers, he didn’t waste his time complaining or feeling hopeless. Instead, he worked hard and became a trusted servant in Potiphar’s house. Even when he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, he did not focus on his suffering. He used his time to help others, interpret dreams, and develop his wisdom. Because of this, he became an important and influential person even in prison.
Eventually, his ability to interpret dreams brought him before Pharaoh. Because he had prepared himself and grown in wisdom, he was not only freed from prison but also promoted to the highest position in Egypt—second only to Pharaoh himself. If Joseph had spent all his time feeling sorry for himself, he might have remained a slave forever. But instead, he focused on personal growth, and when the right opportunity came, he was ready for it.
The lesson here is simple: Instead of focusing all your energy on your problems, invest in building yourself. Influence and wisdom give you the strength to break free from life’s chains.
I hope this story blesses someone today!
Let me know in the comments section,
Cheers!
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