One scorching summer afternoon, a tall, majestic stag wandered to the edge of a crystal-clear lake for a drink. As he bent down to sip the cool water, his reflection caught his eye.

“How magnificent my antlers are!” he thought proudly. “So regal, so strong, so elegant.” But his gaze shifted downward to his legs, and his mood darkened. “My legs, though… so skinny, so awkward. They’re nothing to be proud of.”

While he was lost in his thoughts, a lion emerged silently from the bushes, its sharp eyes locked onto the stag. The stag sensed the danger, and with a surge of adrenaline, he bolted away, his long legs carrying him swiftly across the open plains.

The lion gave chase, but the stag’s speed and agility kept him ahead. “These legs I despise are saving my life,” he realized, his heart pounding.

But as he darted into the forest for cover, disaster struck. His splendid antlers, the very symbol of his pride, became entangled in the low-hanging branches of the dense woods.

He twisted and pulled, but the more he struggled, the tighter the branches held him. The lion, relentless in its pursuit, closed the distance and pounced.

In his final moments, the stag thought, “I valued what was beautiful over what was useful. My legs, which I scorned, could have saved me. My antlers, which I adored, have brought me to ruin.”

Moral of the Story: True worth often lies in what is practical, not just what is pleasing to the eye. Learn to appreciate the unseen strengths in yourself and others.