There once was an angel named Speedy who bragged about how fast she could fly. She flitted here and there, doing her heavenly duties in record time. Tired of hearing her boast, an angel called Slow and Steady, challenged her to a race. All the angels in
heaven gathered to watch the competition.
Speedy flew quickly across dozens of clouds from the starting point and then paused to look back at her opponent. Slow and Steady had only just passed the first cloud, swirling about in her slow and graceful way.
Speedy thought, “I’ve got his race in the bag, I’ll just take a little rest and let the poor thing think she’s got a chance to win, for surely she can’t beat me”
Slow and Steady flew and twirled and enjoyed her flight as she
eventually passed one fluffy cloud after another. At one point, she passed Speedy snoozing comfortably on a cumulus. “Odd.” She thought. “Why would anyone take a nap in the midst of a race?”
As Slow and Steady continued and the finish line got closer, the other angels began hooting and hollering with glee. Shouts of “You can do it!” filled the air. There was such a ruckus in heaven that Speedy woke up, looked back, and looked ahead to see Slow and Steady just a couple of wing flaps away
from winning the race.
Speedy got busy real fast and flew with tremendous power. But she could not catch up, and Speedy lost the race.
The angels were all gathered around Slow and Steady who was enjoying her unexpected victory. Speedy joined the crowd, extended her wing in congratulations and said, “I’ve learned a lesson today. Slow and steady wins the race and speed is no guarantee of finishing first.”
Slow or Speedy, win or lose; angels are always gracious and
wise.
