The Lemon Tree

Ranjana swept the courtyard every morning. The branches of Mr. Verma’s lemon tree leaned over into her yard. Leaves kept falling from the tree, and she had to clean them every day.

One day she said to her husband Rajesh, “Listen, I’m really tired of sweeping these leaves every day. Every morning it’s the same work. I don’t know what to do. They are our neighbors, and I don’t want to upset them, so I just swallow my irritation and stay quiet. Leaves from Mr. Verma’s lemon tree keep falling into our courtyard. Should I ask him to cut the branches that hang over on our side?”

Hearing this, Rajesh smiled and said, “Ranjana, the lemon pickle we are eating ... doesn’t it come from their tree? You can ask him to cut the branches if you want, but then we won’t get such tasty homemade pickle anymore. And for daily needs, you’ll have to buy lemons from the market. Well, if it troubles you so much, you can tell him. Will you?”

Ranjana thought for a while and then said with a smile,
“Don’t say too much. They are neighbors ... I don’t want to spoil relations. You’re right.”

Hearing this, Rajesh burst out laughing, and Ranjana smiled too.

Both of them understood that maintaining sweet relations with neighbors is the most important thing.

🌳🍋 The Lemon Tree – A Small Lesson
When leaves fall from a neighbor's tree, it can be annoying…
but the pickle made from the same tree’s lemons adds flavor to every meal!

Children, sometimes small troubles can turn sweet if we live together peacefully and think wisely.

Message: Living together in harmony is the real sweetness.

— Ratna Pandey, Vadodara (Gujarat)