Kindness: The Heart of Animal Friendship

 Transcribed by AI

Sometimes God brings an animal for us to learn kindness. Auntie, why are animals sometimes afraid of humans? Because animals do not understand human language. Every movement we make is unknown to them. If we are gentle and kind, they will gradually trust us and no longer be afraid.

There is a little puppy that has taken refuge. Girls, there was a bell ringing. A neighbour from our street was asking if we had seen any puppy. I think they were looking for this puppy that had been wandering around our house. Mother, does that mean its owner has found it? Does that mean we should return it? If it has an owner, then yes, my dear. They were very worried. They said that five people spent three days looking for the puppy. They were very distressed. A puppy that is loved very much.

My dear daughter, you did a good deed. God is pleased with your kindness. Our lovely girls, God created all animals with love. Friendship with animals means kindness, compassion, and responsibility. Remember, if you see an animal in need of help, treat it with caution, calmness, and love. Just as it is written in the Holy Book. A good man thinks about the well-being of his animals. But a wicked man does not know love.

So, my dear children, listen to your mother and father a lot and be clever and polite children. Now, lovely and sweet children, let’s listen to the next part of the programme together. Hello, our dear ones, welcome to your programme. Today, we want to talk about a very interesting and educational topic, and that is friendship with animals. Friends, do you love animals? For example, dogs, cats, birds, or even domestic animals like sheep and cows.

Hello, dear friends, I am Banasheh. Today I am very happy that I am with you. Did you know that friendship with animals is not only enjoyable but also teaches us to be kind and responsible? Hello from me, I am Maryam and I love to play with them. When I can give them bread, I feel very happy, and they also become my friends.

Hello, dear friends, your aunt has also come. I think you were very worried. Friends, animals can be our best friends, especially when we learn how to treat them and be kind to them and respect them. Friends, did you know that in Afghanistan, domestic animals like sheep and goats play a very important role in people's lives?

They provide us with milk, meat, and wool, and we must take good care of them. Now I want to ask you, what animals have you seen at home or in the place where you live? Can you think about how we can be kind to them? My grandfather says that in his village, there was a dog that was very loyal and always took care of them and was very attentive to himself and their home.

Friends, animals can also be like family to us. I have a dog that comes to me when I am sad and sits beside me, bringing me peace. This makes me feel good and teaches me kindness. Friends, did you know that God also speaks about caring for animals in the Holy Book? There is a very beautiful verse in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 12, verse 10, which says, "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

So we must also love them. One of the very important things about friendship with animals is that we give them enough food and water and create a suitable living space for them. Children, have you ever played with animals on the street? If you haven't, you can think of small tasks and do them to help an animal. Whenever my mother goes to the market, I take bread for my cats and dogs.

Friends, when you do this, not only does the animal become happy, but you also feel good and learn to be kind. Let me tell you, I once found a little bird that had fallen from its nest from a tree. I brought it home, and my mother helped me take care of it. After a few days, the little bird got better and returned to its nest in the tree. We felt very good that we had saved a little creature.

Well done, Maryam. Children, you can also help animals by doing small tasks. Even leaving a bowl of water for the birds in your yard is a kind act. My dear children, friendship with animals is not just about playing with them or feeding them. We must learn to respect them.

For example, when a dog or cat wants to play, we should not disturb them, and when goats and sheep are grazing, we should not harm them. You can create toys and ropes for the animals to play with. This will keep them healthy and happy. For example, dogs love to play fetch, and cats enjoy playing with yarn.

Oh, I almost forgot to say, friends, once I saw a bird that had fallen from its nest. My mother and I helped it, and it flew away. It felt very good that we saved a new friend. Well done, Maryam. This shows that kindness towards animals can bring joy and teach us as well.

Friends, I want to ask you, which animal do you like the most and why? You can think together with us and even tell your friends. In Afghanistan, there are also wild animals, such as bears, wolves, and foxes. Of course, we cannot treat them like domestic animals. But we must respect them and not disturb their natural lives.

Whenever I go to the mountains, I try not to get close to wild animals and observe them from a distance. This way, they can be free, and I can be safe. Do you understand? Animals have feelings too. They can be happy, sad, scared, or joyful. We must learn to understand their body language.

For example, when a dog wags its tail, it means it is happy, and when its tail is down, it may mean it is sad. You are right, Nafiseh. Friends, understanding these things helps our little friends, the animals, to be happy and healthy, and we also enjoy being with them.

Now I want to say something very important. Friendship with animals helps us become kinder and more patient. When we learn to care for animals, we learn how to be kind to others as well. Friends, I have a true story that my friend told me. A child found an injured dog. He fed the dog every day and took care of it.

After some time, the dog got completely well and was always with the child. This shows that true friendship with animals requires patience and love. I would like to build a shelter for animals when I grow up so that all animals have a home. What a beautiful thought, Maryam.

You can also do good deeds. Even a bowl of water, a simple meal, or a short care can change an animal's life. My dear ones, I want to remind you of something very important again. God loves all creatures. We must learn to be kind to animals and respect them.

Remember that friendship with animals is not just joy and play; it is learning kindness, patience, and responsibility. So always treat animals with a loving heart. I am very happy that today we talked about animals and learned how we can be kinder and better caretakers of our little friends.

Well done, Maryam. You can now think about what kind and good deed you can do for an animal today. Even small acts matter. Sweet and lovely children, I hope you enjoyed today's programme and learned about kindness towards animals. Don't forget that caring for animals is caring for God's creation.

Lovely children, I learned many things from this part of the programme. What about you? I am sure you also learned many good things. Yes, dear children, now I want to ask you what you learned from this part of the programme and what was interesting to you. Maryam and I learned many things, and I encourage you to share what you learned with your sweet friends.

Now let’s move on to the next part of the programme together. Yes, children, let’s hurry up and see what comes next, let’s listen to the next part. Really? Did you cry yesterday? Oh, today he is still the same, looking at us with big eyes. I think he wants something? Oh, call Auntie.

Auntie always says animals are also creations of God. Maybe she is guiding us. What did you say, girls? Why are you so anxious? Auntie, a little puppy has come to us. I think it needs help. Auntie, I am scared, and my heart aches. It seems so helpless. What should we do, what do you think? Let’s sit down. I will tell you a story.

A story about kindness towards animals. Maybe after hearing the story, you will understand how to treat the little puppy. A long time ago, in a village, there was a girl named Nouria. Nouria was a student, just like you. She was a calm, kind girl, and happiness was always evident on her face. The villagers said that Nouria had a pure heart and could never hurt anyone.

One day, a rabbit was living near their house. This rabbit always hid under a big tree and did not allow anyone to come close to it. The village children always tried to catch the rabbit, call it, or approach it, but it would escape every time. However, one day something happened. That day, Nouria was coming back from school with her hands full of grass that she had collected.

When she reached the big tree, she saw that the white rabbit was trembling and had hurt its legs. Nouria stopped and bent down but did not approach. She said softly, "I won’t scare you; if you want, I will help you." The rabbit hesitated a little but did not run away this time. Perhaps it understood that Nouria's voice was one of kindness. Nouria placed the grass a little closer and left.

The next day, she brought fresh grass again. The rabbit slowly came out and ate it. This continued until, eventually, it started to trust her. After a few days, the rabbit would not flee when it heard Nouria's footsteps. It would only perk up its ears and then relax again. One day, when Nouria was heading home, she saw the rabbit coming behind her.

Nouria laughed and said, "So you have become my friend?" From that day on, the rabbit would come to Nouria’s door every morning. If Nouria was sad, the rabbit would sit quietly next to her. If she was happy, it would hop around joyfully. But one rainy day, when Nouria woke up, she did not see the rabbit.

She searched all around the tree and in the surroundings, but there was no sign of it. She became sad and cried, "I wonder if the rabbit is hurt or if someone has taken it." For three days, there was no news. On the fourth day, Nouria sat by the old tree and prayed, "Oh God, if this rabbit is alive, help it, for it is also Your creation."

Suddenly, from behind the bushes, the rabbit appeared, but it was not alone; it had three little baby rabbits with it. Nouria realised that the rabbit had been hiding because of its babies. Nouria cried, but this time it was tears of joy. And she thought, "Thank God, this animal also has life, feelings, and a family."

From that day on, Nouria not only helped the white rabbit but also took care of all the animals in the village. She treated injured animals, provided water for the thirsty, and even scattered seeds for the birds in winter. The villagers said that Nouria was the centre of kindness towards animals. Interestingly, the more kind the people became towards animals, the kinder they became to each other. The village became brighter as kindness spread from Nouria.

Auntie, does that mean we should be kind? Do they also want our kindness? Not always, but most of the time, yes. What matters is that we do the right thing. Auntie, could this little puppy also be in need of kindness? Exactly, it may be lost, may be hungry, or maybe it just needs a little love.

I want to be like Nouria. Let’s prepare some warm milk for it. My dear daughters, which of these deeds do you like the most? Remember, animals are also God’s creations. Lovely children, this story was so beautiful, sweet, and educational. I learned so many new things, and I hope it has been educational for you too.

Yes, lovely children, now we are moving on to the end of this programme. Dear and lovely children, I now commend you to God. Goodbye to all of you.

Music