The Smallest Seed

Told in English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Spanish, French, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese.

There was a seed. A very, very small seed. Smaller than your fingernail.

Somebody put the seed in the ground, and covered it up with soft brown soil.

Now it was dark. And quiet. And the little seed waited.

Am I growing? asked the seed.

Shhh, said the Soil. Wait.

Then came the rain. Pitter, patter. The seed had a lovely drink.

Am I growing NOW? asked the seed.

Shhh, said the Rain. Wait.

Then came the sun, warming the ground. Warm and golden.

Am I growing now? Please?

Wait, said the Sun. Wait.

And the little seed waited. And waited. And waited.

And then, one morning...

Crack!

A tiny green shoot pushed up. Up through the dark soil. Up, up... and out into the light!

Oh! said the seed. I AM growing!

And it grew a little leaf. Then two leaves. Then a stem. Then a branch.

Then more branches, and more leaves, and one day — a bird came and built a nest in it.

Because that tiny little seed, smaller than your fingernail, had become a great big tree.

It just took time.

And you are growing too, little one. A little bit every single day.