Panya's Heroic Rescue

I heard about a 12-year-old boy who lived with his family in a small village in Africa. The boy’s name was Panya. One day he was watching his baby brother while the rest of his family was out working in the sugarcane fields. Their little hut caught fire and was quickly enveloped in flames. Without thinking about his own safety Panya ran into the blazing hut, only to find his baby brother trapped by a burning rafter.

With seemingly supernatural strength he freed his brother, and just as he carried him out, the hut caved in.

By this time the villagers had gathered outside the smoldering remains. They had been too frightened to go inside or to do anything to help. They were very impressed with the courage of young Panya. They congratulated him for his heroism. “Panya, you are very brave! Weren’t you afraid? What were you thinking as you ran into the hut?”

Panya answered, “I wasn’t thinking of anything. I heard my little brother crying, so I went to get him.”