The Three Wishes of Miriam
In a cozy village at the foot of a mountain, there lived a child named Miriam who had a heart full of wonder. One morning, while exploring a mossy glen, Miriam discovered a tiny golden frog perched on a mushroom. "I am the Frog of Three Wishes," it croaked. "But choose wisely — for each wish must reflect speaking truth, or it will vanish like morning mist."
Miriam thought carefully. For the first wish, they said, "I wish that everyone in my village had enough food to eat tonight." The frog nodded approvingly, and baskets of warm bread and fresh fruit appeared on every doorstep.
For the second wish, Miriam said, "I wish my grandmother's garden would bloom again — she misses her flowers so much." Instantly, the grandmother's garden burst into a riot of color: roses, sunflowers, lavender, and daisies, all swaying in the gentle breeze.
The frog waited for the third wish. Miriam sat quietly for a long time, then smiled. "I wish that I could always remember how good it feels to make others happy." The frog's eyes shimmered with golden light. "That," it said, "is the wish that never fades."
And so Miriam grew up in a cozy village at the foot of a mountain, known far and wide not for wealth or power, but for the warmth they brought to everyone around them. And every spring, a small golden frog would appear in the garden, just to say hello.
Talk about it
Miriam used her wishes to help others and remember that kindness feels good.
Three questions for lights-out
- What did Miriam wish for first, and why do you think she chose that?
- How do you think Miriam's grandmother felt when her garden bloomed again?
- Miriam's last wish was to remember how good helping others feels—why was that special?
Words worth knowing
- glen
- a small, quiet valley with trees and grass
- mossy
- covered with soft, velvety green moss that grows on rocks and trees
- vanish
- to disappear suddenly, like magic
- shimmer
- to shine with a soft, wavering light
- lavender
- a fragrant purple flower with a calm, peaceful smell
Why did the golden frog say wishes must reflect speaking truth?
The frog was teaching Miriam that real magic comes from honest, kind wishes—not selfish ones. Wishes based on truth last forever, while false or greedy wishes disappear.
What does Miriam's third wish mean?
Instead of wishing for something she could receive, Miriam wished to *feel* and *remember* the joy of making others happy. The frog said this wish never fades because it's about the person she becomes, not things she gets.