Welcome to this story about the sunshine and its gift.
Long ago,
Before people knew how to kindle their own fires,
The world was dim and cold.
The sun,
A great golden being,
Full of warmth and love,
Watched the earth with deep concern.
The nights were long,
The winters harsh,
And the people often shivered in the darkness,
Huddling together for warmth.
One day,
The sun called upon the wind and said,
Carry my voice across the land.
Let all creatures come forth,
I have a gift to give.
And so the wind rushed through the forests,
Over the mountains and across the vast plains.
Whispering the sun's message.
Soon,
Animals from all corners of the earth gathered in a great clearing,
Their eyes filled with wonder.
And the sun spoke.
I wish to share my light with the people,
To warm their homes and their hearts.
But my fire is strong,
And it must be carried by one with true kindness in their soul.
Who among you will bear this gift?
The mighty eagle stepped forward first.
I am the strongest of all birds,
I can fly higher than the clouds.
Surely,
I am worthy of carrying your gift.
The sun lowered a glowing ember into the eagle's talons,
But the heat was too fierce.
The eagle flapped his wings widely and cried out,
It burns,
It burns.
So,
He released the ember,
And it tumbled down into the sea,
Sizzling as it vanished beneath the waves.
Next,
The cunning fox stepped forward.
I am clever and quick,
If anyone can carry your fire,
It is I.
So,
The sun gently placed the ember in Fox's mouth.
He clenched his sharp teeth around it,
But the light was blinding,
And the heat scorched his tongue.
With a yelp,
He spat it out,
Sending it rolling into the dirt,
Where it turned into a tiny,
Glowing stone before fading away.
One by one,
The animals tried and failed.
The bear with his mighty paws,
The crane with her long wings,
The wise tortoise with his steady gait,
All were turned away by the power of the sun's gift.
Then,
From the shadows of the grass,
A tiny firefly fluttered forward.
She was so small,
That at first,
No one noticed her.
But with a soft,
Steady voice,
She spoke,
I am neither strong nor fast.
I do not have great wings or sharp claws,
But I carry light in my heart.
So,
Let me try.
A hush fell over the gathering.
Some of the animals scoffed.
What could such a small creature possibly do?
But the sun gazed at the firefly and saw something special,
A quiet glow,
Already shining from within.
So gently,
The sun placed a single golden spark upon her back.
Unlike the others,
The firefly did not struggle or cry out.
She did not fight against the fire's heat.
Instead,
She accepted it with love,
Letting it settle into her small body.
Carrying the sun's ember,
The firefly began her journey to the people.
She flew through the dense forests,
Where shadows stretched long and cold.
She drifted over silent rivers,
Where the night air was thick with mist.
Though the ember was small,
Its light never wavered,
For the firefly carried it with kindness,
Not force.
And when she reached the village,
The people gathered around in awe.
The firefly spoke softly,
Her tiny light illuminating their faces.
Kindness is the only way to hold the light,
She said.
It is not strength,
Nor speed,
Nor wisdom alone,
But the warmth we carry within.
And as she released the ember,
It blossomed into flames,
Spreading from one hearth to another.
And for the first time,
Fire crackled in their homes,
Glowing golden and bright.
The people laughed and embraced,
Their hearts no longer burdened by the cold and the dark nights.
From that day on,
The fireflies carries the sun's blessing,
Each one a tiny flicker of that first sacred flame.
And whenever we see them glowing in the night,
We are reminded that true light is not in power or cleverness,
But in the warmth of kindness that we choose to share.
Thank you so much for listening to this story.
Namaste,
My friend.
