THE LITTLE RED TORTOISE iS THE BRAVEST OF THEM ALL

Southern Karoo, South Africa  56” x 39”  Woven Cotton  Artist, Ngxoni

 Long ago, the tortoises lived in fear of a great giraffe who had begun to eat them. Whenever the giraffe approached, the tortoises would hide their heads and legs inside their shells. But the giraffe could simply swallow them whole. Among the tortoises lived a tiny red tortoise. He was smaller than the others and an unusual bright-red color, but he was thoughtful and wise. While the other young tortoises sometimes teased him for being different, he listened carefully whenever the older tortoises spoke. The little Red Tortoise watched as the tortoises tried to find a way to stop the giraffe. None of their plans worked. At last, he decided that he would have to find a solution himself. One day, he crawled into the path of the great giraffe and waited. Soon, he heard the heavy footsteps approaching. The giraffe looked down at the tiny tortoise and declared that he would eat him. The Red Tortoise did not run. Instead, he calmly allowed the giraffe to swallow him. But once inside the giraffe's long throat, the little tortoise did something none of the others had ever done. Rather than retreating into his shell, he stretched out his legs and fastened his sharp claws into the giraffe's throat. The giraffe tried desperately to cough him up and then to swallow him, but the little tortoise held on tightly. The giraffe stumbled, choked, and struggled until at last he fell to the ground and died. The Red Tortoise crawled safely out and returned to his mother. When the other tortoises learned what had happened, they gathered to celebrate him. The little tortoise who had seemed so small and different had freed them from the creature they feared most. From that day forward, the tortoises understood that the Red Tortoise was not merely brave—he was wise.

Moral of the Story:
Courage does not depend on size or strength. True bravery comes from facing danger with wisdom, patience, and the courage to think differently.