By Bill Conley
Moral
of the Story:
When you try to do too many things
at once, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and leave things unfinished. But when
you slow down and take one step at a time, you can feel proud of what you
accomplish. Even when something feels too big, you can do it, just like you
learned to walk one step at a time when you were little. And if you truly need
help, ask—but always try your best first before giving up.
In the flower-filled gardens of
Clover Patch lived a tiny inchworm named Ivy.
Ivy was bright, cheerful, and
curious about everything. She loved to try new crafts, read books, paint
rocks, and build leaf forts. But there was one little problem.
She started everything… but
finished almost nothing.
One Monday morning, Ivy decided to
draw a butterfly.
She sketched the wings, then jumped
up and said, “Oh! I want to paint a pebble too!”
She left her butterfly half-drawn
and ran off to get her paints.
Then halfway through painting her
pebble, she remembered she had started a book the day before.
“Ooooh, I want to see what happens
next!”
So she put down her brush, leaving
the pebble wet and the butterfly forgotten.
By the end of the week, Ivy had:
- Two unfinished drawings
- A book with a bookmark still at chapter two
- A half-painted rock
- A puzzle with missing pieces… because she hadn’t
finished opening the box!
Her garden nook looked like a swirl
of “almosts” and “not-quites.”
Still, she smiled and said, “I just
have so many ideas!”
But deep inside, Ivy felt a little
jumbled.
She didn’t feel proud—just scattered.
One afternoon, she visited her
friend, Benny the Beetle.
Benny was calmly gluing leaves onto
a poster.
“Wow,” Ivy said. “It looks amazing!”
“Thanks,” said Benny. “It took a
while, but I just focused on one part at a time.”
Ivy blinked. “One part at a time?”
Benny nodded. “Otherwise, I’d start
ten things and never finish one. That happened a lot until I learned my secret
trick.”
“What is it?” Ivy asked eagerly.
Benny smiled and pulled out a small
sign from his drawer. It read:
“One step. Then another. Then
another.”
“That’s what I tell myself when
something feels big or I get distracted,” he said.
Ivy looked thoughtful. “I do
start a lot of things at once…”
That night, Ivy looked at her garden
nook.
She took a deep breath and said
aloud, “Okay. One thing at a time.”
She picked up her butterfly drawing
and finished coloring the wings. Then she added the eyes, the antennae, and a
tiny smile.
When she was done, she held it up.
“I did it!”
She felt… proud.
Then she painted the pebble she had
left behind. This time, she added sparkles and let it dry all the way.
Next, she picked up her book and
read three more chapters.
She didn’t rush. She didn’t stop.
She just took one step… then another.
The next day at school, Miss Ladybug
announced a new project:
“Each of you will make a craft and
present it to the class. You have three days. Plan wisely!”
Ivy’s stomach wiggled.
Three days? That’s not much time!
What if I get stuck? What if I don’t finish?
Then she remembered Benny’s words:
One step. Then another. Then
another.
She whispered it to herself and
smiled.
She started planning that evening.
Day one: sketch her design.
Day two: glue and decorate.
Day three: Write a short story to go with it.
Each day, Ivy stayed focused.
When she got distracted, she
whispered, “One thing at a time.”
She didn’t jump ahead. She didn’t
start a second project.
And when the glue got sticky and the
glitter spilled, she tried to fix it herself, before asking for help.
But when the string broke and she
couldn’t re-tie it, she asked her mom, “Can you help me tie this knot?”
Her mom smiled. “Of course! And I’m
proud of you for trying first.”
By the third day, Ivy had created a
beautiful ladybug lantern with a little poem tucked inside.
When she stood in front of the
class, she spoke clearly and confidently.
“This project felt big at first,”
she said. “But I did it one step at a time. And now I know I can finish what I
start.”
The class clapped. Miss Ladybug gave
her a golden sticker shaped like a star.
Later that week, Ivy found another
project in her garden nook—an old snail shell she’d once wanted to decorate.
She smiled.
“Let’s finish this one next.”
And she did.
From that day on, Ivy still had big
ideas and curious thoughts. But she didn’t rush from one thing to the next.
She remembered: take your time. Stay
focused. Finish strong.
Because every great journey—even for
an inchworm—starts with one little step.
And sometimes, it takes many more…
but one at a time will always get you there.
Moral
Poem to End the Story:
Start with one and then do two,
Stick with it 'til you’re through.
Don’t give up or run away—
One step at a time will save the day!
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment