Long, long ago, when the world was still young and the boundaries between earth and sky were not yet firmly established, the Sun and Moon lived together in a beautiful house on the earth. Their dwelling was a magnificent structure with walls that gleamed like polished gold in the morning light and silver in the gentle evening hours. Palm trees swayed nearby, their fronds rustling in the warm breeze, while colorful flowers bloomed in abundance around their peaceful home.
The Sun was a radiant being whose very presence filled every corner of their earthly dwelling with warmth and brilliant light. His golden rays would dance across the walls and floors, creating patterns of brightness that made their home feel alive with energy and joy. He was known throughout the land as a generous and hospitable host, always eager to welcome visitors and share the comfort of his warm presence.
Beside him lived his beloved companion, the Moon, whose gentle silver glow provided a soothing contrast to the Sun’s blazing intensity. She was graceful and serene, with a luminous beauty that brought peace to all who gazed upon her. In the evenings, when the Sun’s fierce heat would dim to a comfortable warmth, the Moon would emerge with her soft, ethereal light, filling their home with a tranquil radiance that made everything seem magical and serene.
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The Sun and Moon were the very best of friends, living in perfect harmony in their earthly paradise. They would spend their days together, the Sun sharing stories of the far corners of the world he had illuminated during his travels, while the Moon would tell him of the quiet, mysterious things she had observed during the peaceful night hours. Their friendship was deep and true, built on mutual respect and genuine affection.
Among their many friends was Water, a powerful and ancient entity who commanded the rivers, lakes, and seas. Water was known to be a loyal friend, though he possessed a nature that was both life-giving and potentially overwhelming. The Sun had always admired Water’s ability to nourish the earth and bring life to all growing things, and over the years they had developed a warm and lasting friendship.
One bright morning, as golden sunbeams streamed through the windows of their earthly home, the Sun felt moved by a spirit of generosity and hospitality. He turned to the Moon with excitement dancing in his brilliant eyes.
“My dear Moon,” he said, his voice warm and enthusiastic, “I’ve been thinking that we should invite our good friend Water to visit us here in our home. We’ve known him for so long, yet he has never had the opportunity to see where we live or to share in our daily life. Don’t you think it would be wonderful to show him our hospitality?”
The Moon, always supportive of her companion’s generous nature, smiled with gentle agreement. Her silver light seemed to shimmer with pleasure at the thought. “What a lovely idea, Sun. Water has always been such a faithful friend to us both. I’m sure he would be delighted to accept our invitation, and we would enjoy his company immensely.”
And so the Sun, filled with anticipation and the joy of friendship, sent word to Water, extending a warm invitation to come and visit their beautiful earthly home. The message traveled swiftly across the land, carried by the gentle breezes and whispered by the rustling leaves of the trees.
When Water received the invitation, his heart filled with happiness and gratitude. He had long wondered what the Sun and Moon’s dwelling looked like, and he was deeply honored that such radiant beings would welcome him into their private sanctuary. However, Water was also thoughtful and considerate, understanding that his nature was somewhat different from that of his celestial friends.
“I am truly grateful for this kind invitation,” Water responded, his voice rippling like a gentle stream. “However, I must ask you to consider something important before I accept. You know that I never travel alone, my family is vast and always accompanies me wherever I go. Are you certain that your house is large enough to accommodate not just me, but all of my relatives as well?”
The Sun, in his generous enthusiasm and desire to show proper hospitality, quickly assured his friend that there would be plenty of room for everyone. “Of course, dear Water! Bring your entire family. Our home is spacious, and we want you to feel completely comfortable. The more the merrier!”
The Moon nodded in agreement, her gentle nature making her eager to welcome as many guests as needed. She trusted in her companion’s judgment and shared his excitement about hosting their friend.
Water was deeply moved by this generous response, though he felt compelled to ask once more, wanting to be absolutely certain that his hosts understood what they were offering. “You’re very kind, but I want to make sure you truly understand when I say my family is large, I mean it includes all the fish of the sea, the creatures of the rivers and lakes, the rain clouds, the morning dew, and every drop of moisture in the world. Are you absolutely certain you’re prepared for such a gathering?”
The Sun, radiating confidence and warmth, laughed heartily. “Water, my friend, you worry too much! We’ve lived here for ages, and our home has always been more than adequate for our needs. Please, bring everyone. We insist!”
And so, on the appointed day, Water began his journey to the Sun and Moon’s earthly dwelling, accompanied by his enormous extended family. As he approached their beautiful home, the ground began to tremble slightly with the sound of his approach. Rivers changed their courses to follow him, and rain clouds gathered overhead in anticipation.
Water arrived at the doorway of the Sun and Moon’s house with polite formality, just as any well-mannered guest should. “My dear friends,” he called out courteously, “I have arrived with my family as you so graciously invited. May we come in?”
“Of course!” the Sun replied enthusiastically, throwing open the doors of their home. “Welcome, welcome all!”
Water began to flow gently into the house, and immediately the Sun and Moon noticed that the level of their guest began to rise. First, Water covered the beautiful floor of their home, creating a shimmering surface that reflected their radiant light in countless dancing patterns. Fish swam gracefully through what had once been their living space, while gentle currents moved softly around the furniture.
As more and more of Water’s family members continued to arrive, the level steadily rose higher and higher. Soon, Water had reached the level of their chairs, then their tables, and still more relatives continued to pour through the open doorway.
Water, being a considerate guest, paused periodically to check on his hosts. “Are you still comfortable, my friends? Should we continue to come in?”
The Sun and Moon, not wanting to appear inhospitable or to hurt their friend’s feelings, insisted that everything was fine. “Please, continue!” they called out, though they had begun to climb onto their furniture to stay above the rising levels.
The procession continued, with waves and streams, rivers and rivulets, all flowing into the house that had seemed so spacious just moments before. The water level continued to rise relentlessly past the windows, up the walls, toward the ceiling of what had once been the Sun and Moon’s comfortable earthly home.
“Are you certain you’re still comfortable?” Water asked again, his voice echoing in the now completely flooded house. “There are still many more family members waiting outside.”
By this time, the Sun and Moon had climbed up to the very roof of their house, the only dry space remaining in their entire dwelling. They looked down at their completely submerged home with a mixture of amazement and growing concern.
“We’re… we’re fine!” the Sun managed to call out, though his voice carried a note of uncertainty that hadn’t been there before.
Water’s family continued to arrive in seemingly endless numbers, and soon even the roof was no longer safe. The Sun and Moon found themselves with no choice but to climb higher and higher, seeking refuge from the ever-rising waters.
With nowhere else to go, they climbed up into the sky itself, thinking they would wait there temporarily until their watery guests had finished their visit and departed. They watched from their celestial perch as their beautiful earthly home disappeared completely beneath the vast expanse of their friend’s enormous family.
Hours passed, then days, and still Water and his relatives showed no signs of leaving. The Sun and Moon waited patiently in the sky, expecting at any moment to see the waters recede and their home reappear. But as time went on, they realized that Water’s family had settled in quite comfortably and seemed to have made their former dwelling a permanent residence.
The Sun and Moon looked at each other with growing understanding. Their friend’s visit had become something far more permanent than they had ever anticipated. Their beautiful earthly home was now part of Water’s domain, and there seemed to be no way for them to reclaim it.
And so, with a mixture of resignation and wisdom gained through experience, the Sun and Moon decided to make the best of their situation. They found that the sky was actually quite pleasant, offering them a magnificent view of the entire world below. From their new vantage point, they could see everything that happened on earth and continue to fulfill their roles of bringing light and beauty to the world.
The Sun discovered that from his position in the sky, he could warm the entire earth with his radiant energy, bringing life and growth to all living things. The Moon found that her gentle silver light could illuminate the darkness for travelers and lovers, poets and dreamers, creating magic and wonder in the night.
And there they have remained ever since, the Sun bringing his golden warmth to the day and the Moon casting her silver beauty across the night sky, both having learned an important lesson about the unexpected consequences of even the most well-intentioned hospitality.
Moral Lesson
This African creation folktale teaches us the importance of thinking carefully before making commitments and understanding the full implications of our generous offers. While hospitality and friendship are virtues to be celebrated, wisdom and preparation are equally important. The story also shows us how unexpected changes, even those that seem challenging at first, can lead to new opportunities and ways of serving others.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What motivated the Sun to invite Water to visit their earthly home? A1: The Sun was moved by a spirit of generosity and hospitality, wanting to show their good friend Water where they lived and share in their daily life after knowing him for so long.
Q2: How did Water demonstrate consideration before accepting the invitation in this African folktale? A2: Water warned the Sun and Moon twice that he never travels alone and that his family is vast, asking if they were certain their house could accommodate everyone before accepting the invitation.
Q3: What does Water’s “family” represent in this creation myth? A3: Water’s family represents all forms of water in the world, fish of the sea, creatures of rivers and lakes, rain clouds, morning dew, and every drop of moisture on earth.
Q4: Why didn’t the Sun and Moon return to earth after Water’s visit in this African legend? A4: Water’s family had completely flooded and settled permanently in their earthly home, making it impossible for the Sun and Moon to return, so they decided to remain in the sky.
Q5: What positive outcome resulted from the Sun and Moon’s forced move to the sky? A5: From their new celestial position, they could better serve the world the Sun could warm the entire earth and bring life to all living things, while the Moon could illuminate the darkness for all creatures below.
Q6: What does this African creation folktale teach about unintended consequences? A6: The story shows that even well-intentioned actions and generous hospitality can have unexpected results, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and understanding the full scope of our commitments.
