The Lantern and the Firefly
On a warm summer evening, an old lantern hung quietly outside a small cottage. It had shone for travelers for many years and was proud of its steady light. One night, a tiny firefly drifted by. "You are very small," said the lantern. "How could anyone ever follow your light?" The firefly smiled. "Perhaps they don't need to follow me. Perhaps they only need a little hope." Just then, a young child wandered into the garden, searching for a lost kitten. The lantern lit the path, but the kitten was hiding deep beneath the bushes where the lantern's light could not reach. The little firefly flew gently into the darkness. Its tiny glow danced between the leaves until the child spotted the frightened kitten. As the child carried the kitten home, the lantern whispered, "Your light is small, but your kindness is great." The firefly replied, "A bright light can show the way, but even the smallest light can change some...
