By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story
The beauty of life is not measured
in possessions or achievements, but in the way one’s heart touches others. Ali
the Alligator shines as a wife, a mother, and a friend because she is kind,
genuine, and loving. She makes her home a place of peace, keeps her children’s
lives steady and on time, and brings joy to everyone she meets. Her faith and
compassion are gifts that inspire others, reminding us that true greatness is
found in living with love and walking daily with God.
In the cheerful town of Nocatee,
where children splashed at the water park, biked along greenway trails, and
played at the playgrounds until the sun went down, lived a remarkable mother
named Ali the Alligator.
Ali wasn’t the type of mom who
sought recognition. Instead, she quietly made sure everything around her ran
smoothly. She got Mathew, age 11, and Rice, age 7, where they
needed to be—on time, every time. She encouraged them at games, lessons, and
church, always with a smile and a hug.
Her husband, Mathew Denny,
often said, “Ali is the glue that holds us together. She’s steady, loving, and
never forgets what matters most.”
But Ali wasn’t just cherished at
home. She was loved throughout Nocatee because she was genuine and kind, a
friend to all who met her. Her sweetness wasn’t a performance—it was who
she was. Everyone who knew Ali felt blessed to call her a friend.
And this year, on October 12th,
the people she loved most planned to give something back.
The
Surprise
Mathew whispered to Rice one
evening, “Mom always does everything for us. This year, let’s do everything for
her.”
Rice clapped her hands. “Yes! A
surprise birthday party!”
Coach Denny nodded. “And let’s
invite her church family, neighbors, and friends. Ali has given so much to
everyone; let’s show her how much she’s loved.”
So the planning began.
Rice drew decorations of her
favorite places in Nocatee, the splash pad fountains where she laughed
with friends, the playground slides she loved to climb, and the palm-lined
bridges that looked magical at sunset.
Mathew added posters of the greenway trails, where he biked with his
buddies, and the football field, where his mom cheered the loudest from
the sidelines.
And Coach Denny made sure there was music, food, and one very big cake.
On the morning of October 12th, Ali
woke up to her family standing beside her bed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Happy birthday, Mom!” shouted Rice.
“Get ready,” said Mathew, “we’ve got
a surprise.”
The
Celebration
When Ali walked into the church
hall, she gasped.
The room was decorated with all the
little pieces of Nocatee that she and her children loved most. Balloons in Nocatee
blue floated above hand-drawn posters of the water park, playgrounds, and
bike trails.
The room was full of smiling
faces—friends, neighbors, and her church family—all shouting together:
🎉 “Happy Birthday, Ali!” 🎉
On the table sat a cake with palm
trees drawn in frosting that read:
“Happy 39th Birthday to Our Amazing
Ali—Wife, Mother, and Friend!”
Ali’s eyes filled with tears.
Rice read her birthday poem aloud:
“Mom, you make our house a home.
You guide us where we need to roam.
With love and kindness, strong and true,
There’s no one sweeter, Mom, than you.”
Mathew stood proudly. “Mom, you’re
the reason I try my best. You keep us on track, and you cheer for us in
everything we do. You’re my hero.”
Then it was time. The lights dimmed,
and the crowd gathered around her cake.
Together, they sang:
🎵 Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Ali,
Happy birthday to you! 🎵
Ali laughed through joyful tears and
blew out the candles in one breath.
That
Evening
Later that night, back at home in Nocatee,
Ali sat with her family on the back porch. The palm trees swayed in the evening
breeze, and she could hear the distant laughter of children playing at the
splash park.
Rice leaned against her. “You’re my
favorite person in the whole wide world.”
Mathew smiled. “And you’re the best
mom ever.”
Coach Denny kissed her cheek. “You
are kind, genuine, and loving, a gift to everyone who knows you. We thank God
for you every single day.”
Ali looked up at the stars and
whispered a prayer of gratitude.
Not for the gifts.
Not for the cake.
But for the love that surrounded her, because that was the greatest gift of all.
Birthday
Poem Moral
She runs her home with love and
care.
She’s always on time, always there.
She cheers her children, lifts her friends,
Her faith and kindness never end.
She shines with sweetness, grace, and cheer.
A gift to all who hold her dear.
Her heart is gentle, her soul divine,
A light from God that will always shine.
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