By Bill Conley
Moral
of the Story:
Gratitude is like sunshine for the
heart—it makes everything brighter. When you choose to be thankful, speak
kindly, and treat everyone with love and respect, you carry joy wherever you
go. You don’t need fancy things to be grateful; just a heart that notices the
good all around you. The more love and sweetness you share, the more it grows
in the world and in you.
In the soft meadows of Sunny Hollow,
lived a kind and cheerful goose named Gracie.
Gracie wasn’t the fastest flyer or
the fanciest dancer, but she had something very special—a heart filled with
gratitude.
She noticed the little things: the
sparkle on morning dew, the way the breeze tickled her feathers, and the sound
of her grandma’s laugh.
“Thank you, sun, for shining today!”
she would say as she waddled through the grass.
“Thank you, worms, for being
delicious!”
And most of all, she thanked others.
“Thanks, Mom, for the warm nest!”
“Thanks, Milo, for playing with me!”
Her kindness and sweet words made
everyone around her smile.
One day at the pond, her friend
Benny the Beaver was having a rough time.
His dam had sprung a leak, and he
looked tired and grumpy.
“Morning, Benny!” Gracie chirped.
Benny mumbled, “Hi.”
“Thank you for always building such
neat places,” she said kindly. “You’re really good at it.”
Benny blinked. “Really?”
“Of course!” Gracie smiled.
Benny’s shoulders relaxed. “Thanks,
Gracie. I needed that.”
At school, when Daisy the Duck got a
math question wrong, some classmates snickered.
But not Gracie.
“You gave it your best, Daisy,” she
said gently. “That’s what matters.”
Daisy smiled and tried again—and got
it right the next time!
Gracie didn’t do it for attention.
She did it because it felt right.
One morning, her teacher, Miss Owl,
gave a special assignment.
“This week, I want each of you to
spread kindness and gratitude. Show love with your words, your actions, and
your attitude.”
Gracie’s wings flapped with excitement.
“That’s my favorite thing!” she
whispered.
She started small.
She helped an older goose carry her
bag.
She complimented the snail’s shiny
shell.
She drew pictures for her friends
with the words, “You are loved.”
She even left a thank-you note for
the bus driver.
Everywhere she went, Gracie brought
a warm glow of joy.
One afternoon, a new goose named
Greta joined the class.
Greta didn’t smile. She didn’t talk
much. And she didn’t play with the others.
“She’s kinda grumpy,” someone
whispered.
Gracie waddled over.
“Hi, I’m Gracie!” she said brightly.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Greta frowned. “Why? You don’t even
know me.”
“Well,” said Gracie, “I like meeting
new friends. And I think you're brave for starting at a new school.”
Greta looked surprised. “No one’s
ever said that to me.”
Gracie grinned. “Want to sit with me
at lunch?”
Greta nodded slowly.
At lunch, Gracie shared her apple
slices and told Greta all about the pond, the playground, and Miss Owl’s jokes.
By the end of the day, Greta was
smiling and laughing with the group.
Later, she told Gracie, “Thank you.
You made today feel less scary.”
Gracie’s heart felt warm.
That weekend, a big storm rolled
through Sunny Hollow.
Tree branches fell. The garden
flooded. And many nests were damaged.
Gracie’s nest stayed safe, but she
knew others needed help.
So, she got to work.
She helped gather twigs.
She shared food.
She sang to comfort little ones.
When someone said, “It’s not fair
you have to help so much,” Gracie replied:
“I get to help. That’s
something to be thankful for.”
When the skies cleared, Miss Owl
announced something special:
“This week’s Kindness Feather Award
goes to… Gracie the Goose!”
Everyone clapped.
Gracie waddled to the front.
She said, “Kindness is easy when you
remember how lucky you are. I may not be the biggest or the best, but I can
always be grateful. And that makes me feel like I’m shining.”
And shine she did.
From that day on, kids in Sunny
Hollow smiled more, said “thank you” more, and were just a little sweeter to
each other.
All because one goose made gratitude
her superpower.
Moral
Poem to End the Story:
Be thankful for what you see each
day,
And kind in all you do and say.
A grateful heart will always glow—
And help the love around you grow!
About the Author
Bill Conley is a dedicated storyteller, life coach, and faith-filled guide whose heartfelt children’s stories have brought smiles and timeless lessons to families everywhere. As the author of hundreds of moral-rich tales, Bill believes in planting seeds of kindness, gratitude, responsibility, and faith in the hearts of children while they’re young. His signature style weaves simple yet powerful truths into colorful adventures with animal heroes, each story crafted to teach values that last a lifetime.
Bill’s passion for writing comes from his own journey, years of experience as a father, grandfather, mentor, and devoted husband. He understands that children need stories that do more than entertain; they need stories that shape character, spark imagination, and open conversations between parents and kids.
Whether he’s writing about a brave little beaver, a wise turtle, a fast cheetah, or a gentle cloud that forgets how to rain, Bill pours his love for faith, family, and old-fashioned values into every word. He knows that small lessons today become big strengths tomorrow.
In addition to his books, Bill is a certified life coach who has helped countless people build stronger relationships, grow in faith, and navigate life’s storms with confidence and hope. His words encourage children and grown-ups alike to be kind, stay positive, honor commitments, and always believe they are enough.
When he’s not writing, Bill enjoys spending time with his three daughters and two grandchildren, sharing laughter and lessons across generations. He also finds joy in serving his church and community, living out the very values he writes about so passionately.
Bill Conley’s greatest hope is that every story will help families build warm memories together—reading aloud, asking questions, and inspiring children to grow into caring, courageous, and thoughtful adults.
He invites you to keep reading, keep talking, and keep believing that the smallest good things we do can change the world for the better.
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