Reading Time: < 1 minuteIn Yashoda’s kitchen, there was one pot kept on the highest shelf.
It had been there for years. Nobody touched it. Nobody moved it.
It was the very pot young Krishna used to climb up to reach, again and again, trying to steal butter when his mother wasn’t looking.
Yashoda would catch him every time, hands sticky, cheeks smeared, looking as innocent as he could manage.
“Krishna!” she would say, trying to sound strict. “How many times must I hide this pot from you?”
He would just smile at her, and she would find she wasn’t really angry at all.
Years passed. Krishna grew up and went away to Mathura, where he had important things to do.
The kitchen grew quiet without him.
One day, an old friend visited Yashoda and noticed the dusty pot still sitting on the shelf, untouched.
“Why do you keep it there, empty?” she asked. “Why don’t you use it?”
Yashoda smiled gently. “Because every time I look at it, I remember him climbing up for it, again and again. I remember his laughter. I remember how full this kitchen used to feel.”
“Doesn’t it make you sad?” her friend asked.
“A little,” Yashoda said. “But mostly, it makes me happy. The pot helps me remember.”
She left it exactly where it was, on the same shelf, where it had always been.
📄 Free printable worksheet available below.
Complete the learning activities and download it at the end of this lesson.
💡 The Lesson Inside
This story reminds us that the things our loved ones leave behind — even small, ordinary things — can hold big memories. We don't always need to let go of those memories to move forward. Sometimes keeping a small reminder, like Yashoda's pot, helps love stay close even when someone has grown and gone away.
✨ Words Worth Keeping
Innocent
appearing not guilty, even if you may have done something wrong
Strict
firm and serious, expecting rules to be followed
Untouched
not used, moved, or interfered with
Smeared
spread messily, often with food or a substance
Gently
in a soft, kind, and careful manner
Memory
something remembered from the past, often with strong feeling
Quiet
calm, with little noise or activity
Reminder
something that helps you remember a person or moment
🌱 Phrases to Remember
Sticky fingers
hands covered in something messy, like butter or food
Wasn't really angry
feeling annoyed on the surface but not truly upset underneath
Grew quiet
became calmer or less lively than before
Look at it
to observe or notice something, often thoughtfully
Stay close
to remain emotionally connected, even at a distance
📚 Quick Glossary
Yashoda
Krishna's foster mother, who raised him with great love in Vrindavan
Mathura
the city where Krishna went after growing up, to take on important responsibilities
Butter pot
a traditional clay pot used to store butter, central to many stories of young Krishna
Shelf
a flat surface used for storing or displaying objects, often placed on a wall
Innocent look
a facial expression suggesting someone has done nothing wrong, even playfully
🗣️ Say It Right
