The Lantern Inside
Author’s Note
*This story is inspired by a saying from the Gospel of Thomas — one of the early collections of wisdom attributed to Jesus. The original words speak of “bringing forth what is within,” reminding us that every person carries an inner light that can guide and heal them.
This retelling offers that idea in a human and child-friendly way. It is not a religious story, but a reflection on courage, kindness, and the quiet strength that lives in every heart.*
The Story
Once there was a young boy named Eli who carried a small lantern inside his heart.
It wasn’t made of glass or metal — it was made of warmth, kindness, and curiosity.
When he laughed, it shone brighter. When he helped someone, it glowed like sunrise.
But not everyone could see the lantern. Some children at school laughed at Eli for being quiet, or for sharing strange ideas about stars and dreams.
They called him names and told him his light was silly.
Each time he believed them, his lantern dimmed a little. He tried to hide it so they wouldn’t laugh anymore. The more he hid, the heavier his heart became.
One day, Eli met an old gardener tending flowers behind the school. The man looked at him kindly and said,
“Why do you walk as though you’ve swallowed a stone?”
Eli told him everything — about the teasing, and how his light felt smaller every day.
The gardener smiled and said,
“Ah, you’ve forgotten to breathe your light. It’s still there, waiting. Every person has one. The more you share it, the stronger it becomes — and the harder it is for shadows to stay.”
So Eli began again. He drew pictures of stars. He helped a classmate who was lonely. He even forgave one of the boys who had teased him.
And slowly, his lantern returned — brighter than before, reaching even those who had once thrown shadows.
From then on, Eli remembered:
When you bring forth the light within you, it lights the whole world.
When you hide it, the world grows darker too.
A Gentle Reflection
This story can be read in many ways.
Some may hear in it the courage to be kind when others are cruel.
Some may feel it as a reminder that we each carry something bright inside that no one else can replace.
And for some, it may simply be about a boy, a lantern, and the quiet magic of remembering who we are.
© 2025 Fluid Thoughts
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