Lily loved bedtime. Not just the quiet, the darkness, or the cozy blankets, but the feeling of peace that settled over her as the sun dipped below the horizon. Tonight, though, Lily felt a little different.
A tiny, fluttering feeling of worry, like a hummingbird trapped in her chest, kept her awake. She couldn't quite pin down what was troubling her. She imagined a thousand tiny worries, each as small as a grain of rice, dancing around her head.
Lily sat up in bed, her eyes wide, and carefully counted them. One... two... three... each worry a distinct, tiny pebble in her thoughts. The little worries grew louder and more insistent. 'What if I don't finish my drawing tomorrow?', one worried. 'What if I forget my lunchbox?', another asked anxiously. 'What if the sun doesn't shine?', a third, concerned, whispered.
Lily sighed. The tiny pebbles grew bigger, until they were as large as oranges, then the size of pumpkins. She felt overwhelmed, her heart thumping loudly against her ribs.
Suddenly, a soft voice whispered, 'It is okay, little one. All these thoughts are simply your worries, wanting to be heard.'
Lily looked around. There was no one there! She blinked, wondering if she was dreaming. But the voice was there again. 'Each worry is like a seed, needing time to grow.'
Lily thought about her grandmother’s garden. She’d seen her carefully plant seeds, nurture them, and watch them blossom into beautiful flowers. Some worries, like seeds, might just need time to grow into beautiful lessons.
The voice continued, 'If you give them space and let them be, they will naturally fade. And while some worries take time, some are just simply needing your love to be gently watered away.'
Lily closed her eyes, letting the worries sink into the soft pillow. She imagined each worry as a delicate flower, beginning to bloom. She whispered to each one, ‘Thank you for letting me know what you are.’
One by one, the worry-flowers began to wilt. Lily felt a growing sense of calm. She realised that some worries were small, some were big, and some just needed a little love and attention.
By the time the last worry faded, Lily felt a lovely lightness in her chest. She smiled. The quiet of the room enveloped her in a warm embrace, and soon, sleep gently carried her away.
As she drifted off to sleep, Lily knew that even when worries try to keep us awake, a little kindness, a little space, and a little understanding can help them fade away. It was time to dream and feel the peace of the night.