Ginny the Groundhog and the Shadow of Fear
By Bill Conley - America’s Favorite
Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Fear often makes things seem darker
than they truly are, but courage brings light back into our hearts. Waiting is
not wasting time; it is learning to trust that everything happens when it is
meant to. Just as the seasons change, our lives have rhythms too, moments to
rest, moments to grow, and moments to shine. Ginny the Groundhog learns that
patience and faith make even the longest winter worth the wait.
In the quiet meadow of Willow Grove,
deep beneath a blanket of snow, a cozy burrow waited for spring. Inside that
burrow lived Ginny the Groundhog, a small, gentle creature with soft
brown fur and bright, curious eyes.
Ginny loved her snug little home,
where she spent her winters curled up in warmth. But every year, one special
day arrived that made her heart race with both excitement and worry, Groundhog
Day.
That was the day all the animals
waited to see if Ginny would come out of her burrow and look for her shadow.
If she saw it, the winter would last
six more weeks. If she didn’t, spring would come early.
This year, Ginny had been thinking
about that day for weeks. She wanted to be brave, but she couldn’t stop
remembering what had happened last year.
When she had poked her head out of
the ground, the sun had been so bright that her shadow looked enormous. It had
startled her so much that she darted back underground and didn’t come out again
for days.
“I’m not sure I can do it again,”
she whispered one night, pulling her blanket of leaves closer. “What if my
shadow scares me again?”
Her best friend, Ollie the Owl,
perched just above her burrow and hooted softly. “Ginny, shadows can’t hurt
you. They’re only dark because of light. Don’t be afraid of what helps you
grow.”
Ginny tilted her head. “But why do I
feel so scared?”
Ollie smiled kindly. “Because fear
is like winter. It can make the world seem cold and still. But courage, dear
Ginny, is like spring; it melts the snow inside your heart.”
Ginny thought about that all night
long.
The next morning, the meadow buzzed
with excitement. February 2nd had arrived! The snow sparkled like
diamonds, and animals gathered near Ginny’s burrow.
There was Betty the Bunny, Max
the Mouse, and even Rusty the Raccoon, all bundled up in their
winter fur.
“Come on, Ginny!” called Betty.
“We’re ready!”
Ginny peeked out from her burrow.
“I’m not sure,” she said softly. “What if I see my shadow again?”
Rusty chuckled. “Then we’ll have a
bit more winter, that’s all. Nothing to worry about!”
Ginny took a deep breath. “Alright.
I’ll try.”
Slowly, she climbed up the little
hill of snow and blinked into the bright sunlight. The air was crisp and cool.
The meadow shimmered with frost.
She looked down, and there it was.
Her shadow stretched across the snow, long and dark.
Her heart began to thump.
But then she remembered what Ollie
had told her: Shadows are only dark because of light.
Ginny took another deep breath.
“It’s just a shadow,” she said quietly. “It can’t hurt me.”
She took one step closer to it, then
another. The shadow moved with her.
“Look!” cried Betty. “She’s not
running away!”
All the animals cheered.
Ginny smiled, her fear melting like
snow in the sun. “I guess I did it,” she said proudly.
Ollie swooped down beside her. “You
did more than that, Ginny. You faced your fear, and you learned to wait without
worry.”
Ginny looked up. “Wait without
worry?”
“Yes,” said Ollie. “Whether spring
comes soon or late, life has a rhythm. Everything happens in its right season.
The sun will shine when it’s time, and the flowers will bloom when they’re
ready.”
Ginny nodded. “So even if winter
lasts a little longer, it’s okay?”
Ollie smiled. “Exactly. Waiting is
part of growing.”
That evening, Ginny stood at the
entrance of her burrow and looked out at the glowing sunset. The animals were
heading home, chattering happily about her bravery.
Betty hopped over and gave her a
hug. “You were so brave, Ginny!”
Ginny smiled. “Thank you. I think I
finally understand. Being brave isn’t about never feeling scared, it’s about
doing what’s right even when you are.”
She looked down at the snow and saw
her shadow again, smaller now in the fading light. It no longer looked scary.
It looked like a part of him, something that had always been there, waiting to
teach her courage.
When night came, Ginny curled up in
her cozy burrow, feeling warm and proud. “Thank You, God,” she whispered, “for
the seasons, for my friends, and for teaching me that waiting has its own kind
of beauty.”
Outside, the stars shimmered like
snowflakes in the sky, and all was peaceful in Willow Grove.
And when spring finally did come,
Ginny stepped out into the sunshine without a single trace of fear.
Moral
of the Story Poem:
Shadows fall but fade away,
Fear cannot forever stay.
Patience blooms where hope takes root.
And courage grows from gentle truth.
Wait with peace through winter’s chill,
Trust that life will work God’s will.
For spring will come, both bright and clear,
When faith outshines your shadow of fear.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
What lesson did Ginny learn about
fear and courage?
2.
Why is it important to remember that
waiting can be a good thing?
3.
How can you show bravery when
something makes you feel afraid?
No comments:
Post a Comment