The sun peeked over the rolling green hills, waking Pig, Cow, and Sheep. They lived on a cozy farm where Farmer McGregor always reminded them about the Ten Commandments, rules that helped everyone live happily.
One morning, Pig, usually so cheerful, grumbled, "I'm tired of following rules! I want to do whatever I want!"
Cow, munching on sweet clover, mooed wisely, "But Pig, the rules keep us safe and help us be kind."
Sheep, ever gentle, added, "Remember what Farmer McGregor says: 'Do not steal'? If we take things that aren't ours, someone will be sad."
Pig, though, just snorted. Later that day, Farmer McGregor left a delicious pile of shiny red apples by the barn. Pig’s eyes lit up. "Oink! Those look tasty!" He knew the apples were for everyone, to be shared at snack time, but he snuck over and gobbled down three!
When snack time came, there weren't enough apples for Cow and Sheep. Their faces drooped. Pig felt a pang in his belly that wasn't from the apples – it was guilt. He remembered, "Do not steal." He had been selfish, and now his friends were sad.
The next day, Farmer McGregor was painting the fence. He asked them to stay away from the wet paint. "It's important to respect what belongs to others," he’d said, which was like the commandment "Do not covet" – not wanting what others have so much that you try to take it.
But Pig, feeling restless, decided to play a trick. He tiptoed over to the wet fence and pressed his hoof prints all along the bottom. Farmer McGregor sighed when he saw it, meaning he had to do extra work to fix it. Pig felt a prickle of shame. He hadn’t thought about the consequences for Farmer McGregor.
Later, a big storm rolled in. Thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed. Farmer McGregor had told them, "Honor your father and your mother" – meaning listen to those who care for you, like the farmer. He’d said to stay in the barn during storms for safety.
Pig, though, thought it would be exciting to splash in the puddles outside. "It's just a little rain!" he squealed, ignoring Cow's worried moos and Sheep's soft bleats. He darted out.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew a branch down right where Pig had been splashing! He scrambled back into the barn, trembling. Cow and Sheep rushed to him.
"See, Pig?" said Cow, nuzzling him. "Listening to Farmer McGregor keeps us safe. It's like 'Do not murder,' but for our safety, making sure we don't hurt ourselves or others by being careless."
Sheep added, "And being honest, like 'Do not bear false witness,' means we can trust each other. If you had told us you took the apples, we could have figured it out together."
Pig hung his head. "You're right," he whispered. "I thought the rules were boring, but they really do help us. When I didn't follow them, I made you sad, I made Farmer McGregor work harder, and I even put myself in danger."
From that day on, Pig tried his best to follow the Ten Commandments. He shared his food, respected Farmer McGregor’s things, and listened to the rules. He learned that the commandments weren't just a list of "do nots" – they were like a map to a happy, safe, and kind life for everyone on the farm. And that made all of them, especially Pig, feel much, much better.
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