A Lesson on the GS Promise
[Hint: doing the craft while telling the story is doubly effective]
Once upon a time, there was a wise old needle who decided to make a beige necklace. It enlisted the help of some string and set out on its journey. Beads rushed by the thousands to join. The needle welcomed all the beads and quickly threaded them on. This process went on for quite some time. The necklace got longer and prettier. After some time, the needle turned around to look at its work. It was surprised to note that among all the beige beads it had put on, there were a few blue ones. When asked, the blue beads insisted that they had just as much right to be there as did the original beige beads. The needle was a little bit shocked, but upon reflection, it realized that the necklace would become even more beautiful if beads of all sizes and colors were added. No sooner had it admitted this than it noticed tiny brown beads lurking timidly on the sidelines. "Come on in," it called. "Being part of this necklace is one of the best decisions you'll ever make!" Well, you guessed it--those little beads lined right up to be threaded on. And it didn't stop there. Beads of red and green and blue and pink and yellow flocked to the needle. Not all chose to stay, but many more joined than left. With each new bead, the necklace gained strength. Pretty soon it was so-ooo long that it wrapped around the entire world. Eventually the needle was unable to help anymore, but it passed on the trade to some of the beads, and they gathered enough momentum to keep threading the beads by themselves.
One day, a small brown bead got a little nervous. "This necklace is awfully long," she said to her navy blue sister. "And the needle isn't here to run things anymore. What if the necklace falls apart?"
The older, more experience bead tried hard not to laugh. "Don't worry, little one," she said, "there's no fear of that happening. We have the strongest clasp possible!"
The brown bead breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad, but I don't remember us having a clasp," she said in confusion. "What does it look like?"
The confident blue bead explained. "You can't see the clasp. It's hidden in your heart, and in the heart of all the beads who have ever been part of this great necklace. You can find it if you try. What is it that really makes you part of the necklace? Say it with me."
The brown bead smiled slowly. "I think I understand" she announced. And together the beads spoke the words that had linked them ever since the wise needle had had its inspiration,that would continue to link them forever:
"On my honor I will try, to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law."