Chapter 25: Forgiveness- Ally the Alligator Learns to Let Go
On the sunny banks of Willow Waddle Creek lived Ally the Alligator, a curious and clever young gator. Ally loved helping her animal friends with ideas for games and projects. But one day, something happened that made her heart feel heavy.
“Hey, everyone!” chirped Benny the Beaver, “I built this new raft idea all by myself!”
Ally’s jaw dropped. That was my idea! she thought. Benny had forgotten to mention that Ally had helped him design it! Her tail swished angrily in the water.
All day, Ally’s tummy felt tight, like she’d swallowed a spiky pinecone. She snapped at her brother for no reason, and when bedtime came, she couldn’t sleep. The unfairness of it all kept playing in her head.
The next morning, Ally waddled to visit Wise Old Owl, perched in the big oak tree.
“Why are you frowning, Ally?” asked Owl, tilting his feathery head.
“Benny took credit for my idea!” Ally huffed. “And now, I feel awful.”
Owl blinked. “Do you know the secret to feeling better, Ally?”
“No…” Ally mumbled.
“It’s called forgiveness. Think of your hurt feelings like carrying a heavy backpack. When you forgive, you set that backpack down. You don’t carry it anymore.”
“But won’t Benny think it’s okay to forget me again?” asked Ally.
“Forgiving isn’t about saying what Benny did was right,” Owl explained. “It’s about choosing peace for yourself. You can tell Benny how you feel, but forgiving him frees you from the heavy load.”
Ally thought about this and decided to give it a try. She found Benny by the creek.
“Benny,” Ally said, “I felt sad when you didn’t mention my help with the raft. But I’m letting go of the upset because I don’t want to carry it around anymore.”
Benny’s eyes widened. “Oh no, Ally! I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry!”
From that day, Ally practiced letting go whenever she felt hurt or upset. She forgave herself when she made mistakes and helped her friends talk through their own conflicts. Before long, everyone at Willow Waddle Creek felt lighter, happier, and ready to work together.
And Ally? She realized that forgiveness wasn’t just about being kind to others—it was about being kind to herself, too.