Nila's Beacon of Courage

In a small island village, Nila lived a peaceful life as the lighthouse keeper. She loved watching the sunset over the ocean and feeling the warmth of the lighthouse beam on her face. However, Nila had a secret fear - she was afraid of the dark. Every night, when the stars came out, Nila would feel her heart beating faster and her hands shaking. She wished she could be brave like the heroes in the stories she read. One day, while exploring the island library, Nila met a tiny turtle named Kavita. Kavita was no ordinary turtle - she remembered ancient legends and stories from the past. Kavita told Nila that the island library was special, for the waves that crashed against its shores turned into stories that filled the bookshelves. As they walked through the library, Kavita pointed to a diya that sat on a shelf, its flame flickering softly. 'This diya remembers every smile it has seen,' Kavita said. 'It holds the power to light up the darkest nights.' Nila was fascinated by the diya and felt an instant connection to it. Kavita sensed Nila's fear and told her that true bravery comes from within. 'You don't have to be fearless to be brave,' Kavita said. 'You just have to be willing to face your fears and help others.' Nila thought about Kavita's words and realized that she had been letting her fear control her. She decided to make a change. That night, as the darkness fell, Nila took a deep breath and lit the diya. As the flame grew, it illuminated the library, and Nila saw that the books were filled with stories of brave heroes who had faced their fears. Suddenly, a strong wave crashed against the shore, and the library began to flood. Nila knew she had to act fast to save the books and the diya. With Kavita by her side, Nila bravely waded through the water, rescuing the books and carrying the diya to safety. As they worked together, Nila felt her fear melting away, replaced by a sense of courage and purpose. When the flood subsided, the villagers came to help clean up the library. Nila saw that one of the villagers, an old man, was crying because he had lost his favorite book in the flood. Nila immediately went to comfort him and offered to help him find a new copy. As they searched through the shelves, Nila realized that the old man was the one who had been mean to her when she was a child, making fun of her fear of the dark. But instead of feeling angry, Nila chose to forgive him. As she did, the diya's flame grew brighter, lighting up the night. The old man was touched by Nila's kindness and apologized for his past behavior. From that day on, Nila was no longer afraid of the dark. She had found her inner courage and was determined to help others. As she looked out at the ocean, Nila knew that she would always be a beacon of hope and bravery, just like the lighthouse that stood tall on the island shore.

🎯 The Lesson

True bravery comes from within, and it's not about being fearless, but about facing your fears and helping others.

🤔 Think About It

• What is something that you're afraid of, and how can you face your fear like Nila did?
• How can you help others like Nila helped the old man, and what would you feel if someone forgave you like Nila did?
• What does it mean to be a beacon of hope and bravery, and how can you be one in your daily life?