Who Deserves More Praise is a gentle moral story that focuses on obedience, kindness, and true goodness. Through the actions of two siblings given the same task, the story shows that doing good is not about seeking praise, but about thinking of others and helping when help is needed.
In a quiet home, two Gray Rabbit brothers lived with their mother. Their father worked far away, so both brothers wanted to prove they were the most loving and obedient child. The older brother was more mature and often gave in to his younger sibling. The younger one, however, always wanted more praise from their mother and tried to stand out.
One morning, Mother Rabbit said, “Today you do not have school. Older Rabbit, go to the forest and gather ten shiitake mushrooms for me. Younger Rabbit, go to the meadow and pick ten beautiful flowers. The road is long, so be careful and do not wander around.” Both brothers happily agreed and set off right away.
Younger Rabbit followed his mother’s instructions exactly. He ran straight to the meadow but did not pick the first flowers he saw. Instead, he walked around carefully, choosing only the brightest and most beautiful blooms. Once finished, he rushed straight home and proudly said, “Mom, look at these beautiful flowers. Praise me, please.” Mother Rabbit admired the bouquet and said the flowers were lovely. Younger Rabbit quickly added, “I did not wander at all on the way home.” When Mother Rabbit gently asked if he met anyone along the road, he replied that he saw a young squirrel crying by a guava tree but did not stop because he was afraid his mother was waiting. Mother Rabbit listened quietly and said nothing more.
After a long wait, Older Rabbit finally returned home. His basket was full, not only with shiitake mushrooms but also wood ear mushrooms. He greeted his mother and handed his younger brother some chestnuts, saying, “You like these, so I picked them for you.” When Mother Rabbit asked why he gathered so many mushrooms, he smiled and explained that since he had already gone to the forest, he collected extra in case she needed them later. She then asked why he came home so late. Older Rabbit replied that he had stopped to help a hen who had lost one of her chicks and stayed until the chick was found.
Mother Rabbit smiled and called both sons to her side. She said, “Both of you deserve praise for obeying me. Younger Rabbit, always thinking of your mother is good. But Older Rabbit also thought of others, gathered extra food, shared with his brother, and helped someone in trouble.” She gently reminded the younger one, “Do good things not just to be praised, but because they help others.”
Younger Rabbit finally understood. Feeling shy, he nodded and softly answered, “Yes, Mom.”
