Juno and the Peacock

The peacock did not have a special tail in the past. He looked like every other bird and no one paid him any special attention. But he wanted to be special. He wanted all the others to look at him and admire him all the time. He felt sad that no one looked at him much or told him how good looking he was.

One day, near the river in the forest, he met Goddess Juno. Oh, she was very beautiful. He said, “Oh divine goddess – your beauty and magnificence are very impressive. I would like to be this lovely as well. I want everyone to admire me. I want even the king to be envious of me. Can you make me beautiful as well?”

Goddess Juno looked at the bird and thought, “What an arrogant bird he is!” She wanted to teach him a lesson. So she made a beautiful, large, and magnificent tail for him. It sparkled in blue and green and gold when it was open. It was lovelier than the tapestries that hung on the palace walls, it was prettier than the blue waters of the river, the green was greener than the leaves of trees around. It was the most beautiful thing that all the animals in the jungle had seen so far.

So they crowded around the bird, admiring his tail. The peacock spread his tail and danced and enjoyed the attention. He loved it. He was the best, he was magnificent.

Just then, a moving shadow swept past. All the animals looked up. It was an eagle flying above them. He was so high and his wings were so wide that even the sunlight was cut off for a moment.

“Ahhh” gasped the animals in admiration. “Look! Look how well he flies! How magnificent he seems! How powerful he is!”

“Huh,” thought the peacock. “I can fly too. I am prettier and more powerful than him. Wait, I will show them.”

He spread his wings to fly – and he realized that he could not fly very well anymore. His tail was too heavy. He could only fly very short distances. He could only lift himself a few feet off the ground. He wasn’t a strong flier anymore even though he was beautiful. Goddess Juno had taught him that looks are not everything. What you can do matters more.