High up in the sky, the North Wind and the Sun were having a very loud argument. "I am the strongest one in the whole world!" bellowed the Wind, puffing out his big cloudy cheeks. "Oh no, you are not," said the Sun calmly, her golden face glowing warm and bright. "I am far stronger than you."
Just then, they both looked down and saw a traveler walking along a winding country road. He wore a thick green woolen cloak wrapped snugly around his shoulders. "I have an idea," said the Sun with a gentle smile. "Whoever can make that traveler take off his cloak is the strongest. Do you agree?" The Wind grinned. "Easy!" he boasted. "Watch me!"
The Sun hid behind a cloud, and the North Wind took a deep breath. "Here I go!" he shouted, and then he blew with all his might. WHOOOOSH! The trees bent sideways, leaves flew through the air, and the traveler's hat nearly blew right off his head.
The Wind blew harder and harder. He huffed and he puffed until his cloudy face turned dark gray. The traveler shivered and grabbed his cloak with both hands. "My goodness, what a terrible wind!" the traveler cried, pulling his cloak tighter around himself. The harder the Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held on.
The North Wind was getting angry now. He blew his very strongest, fiercest, coldest blast. WHOOOOOOSH! Branches cracked, puddles rippled, and dust flew everywhere. But the traveler just hunched his shoulders, wrapped his cloak around himself twice, and clutched the brass clasp with both hands. He was NOT letting go.
The Wind blew and blew until he was completely out of breath. His cheeks drooped, his stormy hair went limp, and he could not blow even one more tiny puff. "I... I cannot... do it," he panted, sagging in the sky like a tired gray balloon. The traveler was still wearing his cloak, tighter than ever.
"Now it is my turn," said the Sun kindly. She did not shout. She did not rush. She simply floated out from behind the cloud and began to shine. At first, it was just a soft, gentle glow — like a warm smile spreading across the sky. The Wind folded his arms and watched.
The Sun shone a little warmer, and a little warmer still. Golden light poured down onto the country road, making the green hills glow and the flowers lift their heads. The traveler loosened his grip on his cloak just a little. "Oh," he said, looking up, "that feels rather nice."
The Sun kept shining her gentle, steady warmth. The air grew soft and pleasant. Birds began to sing. Butterflies danced over the wildflowers by the road. The traveler unbuttoned his brass clasp. "What a lovely day it is turning out to be," he said, smiling for the first time.
At last, the traveler stopped walking. "It is much too warm for this heavy cloak!" he laughed. He took off his thick green cloak, folded it over his arm, and strolled along the road happily, whistling a cheerful tune. The Sun had done it — without blowing or pushing or forcing at all.
The Sun smiled down at the North Wind. She did not boast or say "I told you so." She just glowed warmly and gently, the way she always did. The Wind looked down at the happy, cloak-free traveler and scratched his cloudy head. "Well," he grumbled quietly, "I suppose you were right after all."
And that is how the Sun taught the Wind a very important lesson. You cannot force someone to do something by being rough and angry. But if you are gentle and kind and warm, people will want to do things all by themselves. Kindness is always stronger than force — and a warm smile can do what the coldest wind cannot.
