Luna was a small, fluffy lamb with a big problem. She was terribly afraid of the dark. Every evening, as the sun began to set, Luna would tremble and hide behind her mother, Bess. All the other lambs loved nighttime – it meant cozy sleep and sweet dreams – but Luna just couldn’t understand it. She worried about what might be lurking in the shadows.
“Momma,” she’d bleat, her voice small and shaky, “What if a grumpy badger comes out? Or a shadowy wolf?” Bess would nuzzle Luna gently. “There are no grumpy badgers or shadowy wolves near, little one. The darkness is just the sun taking a rest. And even when it’s dark, you have a light inside you.”
Luna didn’t understand about a light inside her. She wished she had a bright lantern like Old Man Fitzwilliam, the shepherd. He always had a warm glow around him, chasing away the shadows. One evening, Luna decided she’d had enough of being scared. She wandered away from the flock, determined to find her own light.
She stumbled upon Barnaby, a wise old owl perched on a fence post. “Excuse me, Mr. Barnaby,” Luna said politely. “I’m Luna, and I’m afraid of the dark. My momma says I have a light inside me, but I can’t find it.” Barnaby blinked his large, golden eyes. “A light isn’t something you *find*, little lamb. It’s something you *show*.”
“Show?” Luna tilted her head. “How do I show it?” Barnaby smiled. “By being brave. By helping others. By being yourself. Your kindness, your gentleness, your willingness to try – those are all lights that shine brightly.”
Just then, they heard a tiny squeak. A little field mouse, Millie, was trapped under a fallen branch. Luna, forgetting her fear, rushed forward. She pushed and pushed with all her might, and finally, the branch shifted enough for Millie to scramble free. “Oh, thank you, Luna!” Millie squeaked gratefully.
As Luna helped Millie brush off the dirt, she felt a warm glow spreading through her chest. It wasn’t a lantern’s glow, but it was a lovely, comforting feeling. She looked around, and the darkness didn’t seem so scary anymore. Barnaby hooted softly. “See, Luna? You showed your light.”
Luna realized Barnaby was right. Being brave and helping Millie had made her feel strong and confident. She walked back to her mother, no longer trembling. Bess nuzzled her proudly. “I see your light shining, Luna,” she said. “It’s the brightest light of all.”
From that night on, Luna wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore. She knew that even when she couldn’t see, her inner light – her courage, her kindness, and her willingness to help – would always guide her. And as she drifted off to sleep, nestled close to her mother, Luna smiled, knowing that even the smallest lamb can shine brightly in the darkness.