The Cloud That Carried Too Much

Let us lie back on the soft grass... and look up at the sky.

High above, a big grey cloud is floating. It is very full. It carries many, many drops of water. It moves slowly... so slowly. It feels heavy and tired.

"I am too full," the cloud sighs. "I carry so much. I cannot float like the little white clouds."

A cool breeze comes by. It brushes the cloud softly. "You do not have to carry it all," says the breeze. "You can let a little go."

The cloud thinks for a moment. Then it lets one tiny drop fall. Pit... The drop lands on a green leaf. The cloud feels a little lighter. Let it go... softly, softly.

So it lets a few more fall. Pit... pat... pit... Soft rain falls on the fields. It taps on the tin roofs. It makes little rings on the pond. Let it go... softly, softly.

Down below, the earth smiles. The grass lifts its tips. The flowers open their faces to the drops. A sparrow shakes its wings and chirps.

Up above, the cloud grows lighter and lighter. Its grey turns soft white. It stretches out, long and fluffy, like cotton. Let it go... softly, softly.

Now the rain stops. The air is cool and clean. The cloud floats on across the blue sky. It is light now. It is smiling.

We breathe in... and out. Maybe we carry some worries too. That is okay. We can let them fall, like soft rain. One by one... pit... pat... And our hearts feel light, like the little white cloud.