The Three Wishes of Ezra
In a desert oasis shimmering under the stars, there lived a child named Ezra who had a heart full of wonder. One morning, while exploring a mossy glen, Ezra 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 tzedakah, or it will vanish like morning mist."
Ezra 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, Ezra 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. Ezra 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 Ezra grew up in a desert oasis shimmering under the stars, 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
Ezra used three magical wishes to help others and discovered true happiness.
Three questions for lights-out
- What did Ezra wish for first, and why do you think that mattered?
- How did Ezra's grandmother feel when her garden suddenly bloomed with flowers?
- Why was Ezra's third wish the most special one of all?
Words worth knowing
- oasis
- a place with water and green plants in the desert
- tzedakah
- helping others and being kind because it's the right thing
- shimmering
- sparkling or glowing with soft light
- vanish
- to disappear suddenly
- lavender
- a purple flower that smells sweet and calming
What does tzedakah mean in this story?
Tzedakah means giving generously to help others. In the story, the frog only grants wishes that are about helping people instead of just making Ezra happy.
Why did the golden frog keep visiting Ezra?
The frog came back each spring to say hello because Ezra's kindness and generosity touched its heart—Ezra had learned the most important lesson about making others happy.