The Storm and the Little Star Lily, a young girl of six, adored the stars. She would sit by the window of her bedroom every night and stare up at the bright lights above. She wished she had the same radiant beauty as them. Dark clouds rolled in one evening and covered the sky. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. As the storm shook her window, Lily's little heart pounded. She tightly closed her eyes and whispered, "I'm scared." Gently, her grandmother, who was nearby knitting, smiled. "Do you know, Lily, that just because we can't see them, stars don't stop shining?" Upon opening her eyes, Lily "They don't?" "No, my beloved. They are only briefly obscured by the clouds. However, they continue to shine, just as you must, despite any storms. Lily embraced her blanket as the storm continued, feeling a little braver. When she was having trouble reading a new book at school the following day, she thought of her grandmother's words. She told herself, "I may not get it now, but I will keep shining." And just like the stars, Lily never gave up trying, even when her little world was covered in struggle clouds.