06 It’s the Same Thing, But…
/06 It’s the Same Thing, But…
*John is an ten-year-old boy, and one morning while getting ready for school, he saw rain outside the window.
/*John is an ten-year-old boy, and one morning while getting ready for school, he saw rain outside the window.
“Oh no, rain. Today is the worst!” *John sighed.
/“Oh no, rain. Today is the worst!” *John sighed.
He disliked rainy days because his clothes got wet and his shoes got dirty.
/He disliked rainy days because his clothes got wet and his shoes got dirty.
At that moment, *John’s younger brother Eric said with a smile,
/At that moment, *John’s younger brother Eric said with a smile,
“I like rain! Because it makes flowers happy and playing in puddles is fun!”
/“I like rain! Because it makes flowers happy and playing in puddles is fun!”
*John replied, “You like rain? That’s weird. It just gets you wet and causes nothing but trouble.”
/*John replied, “You like rain? That’s weird. It just gets you wet and causes nothing but trouble.”
On the way to school, *John saw Eric happily jumping in the rain and felt a bit puzzled.
/On the way to school, *John saw Eric happily jumping in the rain and felt a bit puzzled.
“Why can Eric enjoy the rain so much?” he wondered.
/“Why can Eric enjoy the rain so much?” he wondered.
That day, the teacher talked in class about “the importance of rain.”
/That day, the teacher talked in class about “the importance of rain.”
“Rain waters the fields, helps plants grow, and fills rivers and lakes.”
/“Rain waters the fields, helps plants grow, and fills rivers and lakes.”
“Even the water we drink comes from rain that travels through nature.”
/“Even the water we drink comes from rain that travels through nature.”
Hearing this, *John thought for the first time, “Rain isn’t just a nuisance.”
/Hearing this, *John thought for the first time, “Rain isn’t just a nuisance.”
When *John got home, he said to his mother, “Rain is actually a good thing, isn’t it?”
/When *John got home, he said to his mother, “Rain is actually a good thing, isn’t it?”
His mother smiled and said,
/His mother smiled and said,
“That’s right. Thanks to rain, food grows and the whole Earth stays healthy.
/“That’s right. Thanks to rain, food grows and the whole Earth stays healthy.
But it’s important to look for the ‘good side’ of everything, not just rain.
/But it’s important to look for the ‘good side’ of everything, not just rain.
Being thankful brightens your heart and is good for your health too.”
/Being thankful brightens your heart and is good for your health too.”
*John was surprised and asked, “Being thankful is good for your health?”
/*John was surprised and asked, “Being thankful is good for your health?”
His mother continued,
/His mother continued,
“Yes, feeling thankful reduces stress and makes both your mind and body healthier.
/“Yes, feeling thankful reduces stress and makes both your mind and body healthier.
Smiling is even said to boost your immune system.”
/Smiling is even said to boost your immune system.”
That night, *John said to Eric,
/That night, *John said to Eric,
“I found some good things about rain too. Plants grow strong, it feels cool and nice, and playing in puddles isn’t so bad.”
/“I found some good things about rain too. Plants grow strong, it feels cool and nice, and playing in puddles isn’t so bad.”
Eric laughed and said, “See? Rain is great!”
/Eric laughed and said, “See? Rain is great!”
Lying in bed, *John thought,
/Lying in bed, *John thought,
“The same rain can feel annoying or thankful, and that changes how I feel.”
/“The same rain can feel annoying or thankful, and that changes how I feel.”
“Being thankful really is important.”
/“Being thankful really is important.”
From then on, *John started thinking every morning,
/From then on, *John started thinking every morning,
“What can I be thankful for today?”
/“What can I be thankful for today?”
Multiple Choice Review Questions
/Multiple Choice Review Questions
What good things about rain did *John learn at school?
/What good things about rain did *John learn at school?
a. It helps plants grow and brings water to rivers and lakes.
/a. It helps plants grow and brings water to rivers and lakes.
b. You can run faster on rainy days.
/b. You can run faster on rainy days.
c. Rain makes your clothes wet.
/c. Rain makes your clothes wet.
Why did *John’s mother say being thankful is good for your health?
/Why did *John’s mother say being thankful is good for your health?
a. Because it reduces stress and boosts your immune system.
/a. Because it reduces stress and boosts your immune system.
b. Because you get sweets when you’re thankful.
/b. Because you get sweets when you’re thankful.
c. Because it makes it easier to play on rainy days.
/c. Because it makes it easier to play on rainy days.
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
What do you think made *John change his feelings about rain?
/What do you think made *John change his feelings about rain?
Also, if you tried to find the good side of something you dislike,
/Also, if you tried to find the good side of something you dislike,
what kind of things might you discover?
/what kind of things might you discover?
Think about how having a thankful heart can make you and those around you happier.
/Think about how having a thankful heart can make you and those around you happier.
What are some things you can be thankful for in your daily life?
/What are some things you can be thankful for in your daily life?
