Prophet Jonah and the Great Fish

Jonah was a prophet sent to a city called Nineveh. He told the people of the city about goodness, but for a long time they did not listen to him. Jonah grew sad, lost his patience and left the city.

He came to the seashore and boarded a ship. When the ship reached the middle of the sea, a great storm broke out. The waves tossed the ship to the right and to the left. Jonah fell into the sea. At that very moment, by God's command, a huge fish came and swallowed him. But the fish did not hurt him; Jonah stayed safe and sound inside the fish.

It was dark inside the fish. It was dark at the bottom of the sea. And the night was dark too. Inside these three darknesses Jonah thought: he had been impatient, he had left his task and gone away. He was sorry, and he prayed with all his heart: "There is no god but You. Glory be to You. I have done wrong."

God heard this sincere prayer. The fish swam slowly toward the shore and left Jonah on a soft beach. Jonah was tired and weak. God made a gourd plant with wide leaves grow beside him; its leaves shielded him from the sun, and he rested in its shade.

When Jonah was well again, he went back to Nineveh. And what did he see! While he was away, the people of the city had thought things over, felt sorry and turned to goodness. They welcomed Jonah with joy.

This story tells us: being sorry and apologising when you make a mistake is a sign of greatness. Even in the darkest moment, a prayer from the heart is heard. And being patient makes things end well.

Tonight, when you close your eyes, think of today's little mistakes and say in your heart, "next time I will do better." Then drift into a sleep as calm as the sea.