The Little Lantern Fish

In the deepest part of the sea, in the darkness the sun never reaches, there lived a little lantern fish. Her name was Mini. On top of her head was a thin stalk, and on the end of the stalk a small lantern. But Mini's lantern did not shine much. While the other lantern fish lit up like lamps, Mini's was no brighter than a match flame.

"Why is my light so small?" she asked her mother.

"Perhaps its time hasn't come yet," said her mother.

Mini swam off sadly. Alone in the dark. Then she heard a tiny voice: "Help, I've lost my way." A tiny shrimp was turning round and round in the dark. Mini came closer; her little lantern lit up the shrimp's way. "Thank you!" said the shrimp, and went back to its rock.

Mini's lantern seemed to shine a little brighter. At first she did not notice.

Then a baby octopus had lost its mother. Mini showed it the way with her light. The lantern shone a little brighter.

Then a seahorse, a crab, a starfish. Mini showed each of them the way. And every time, her lantern grew a little bigger.

One night a storm stirred up even the bottom of the sea. All the little creatures lost their way. In the dark, from everywhere, came voices: "I'm here!" "Where are you?" Mini raised her lantern. The lantern now shone so brightly that the sea floor was like daytime. Everyone found each other, everyone went home.

Her mother looked at Mini: "Its time has come."

Mini asked: "When is this time?"

Her mother said, "The moment you understand that light grows the more it is shared."

That night Mini leaned her lantern against a rock, the bottom of the sea filled with a soft light, and all the little fish, shrimps and crabs slept around that light.

If there is a small light in your room too, think about it now. Maybe a night lamp, maybe the moon coming through the window. It doesn't matter that it is small. It keeps watch while you sleep.