Holly the Hippo and the Gentle Voice Within - A Children's Story

 Holly the Hippo and the Gentle Voice Within

In the middle of a peaceful savanna, by a quiet, winding river, lived a young hippopotamus named Holly. Holly was big, strong, and full of energy, but more than anything, she had a gentle heart. She loved helping her friends, listening to their stories, and exploring the wide, grassy plains. But sometimes, Holly didn’t know what to do, think, or say when things got tricky. And that made her feel unsure and a little scared.

One morning, as the sun rose over the river, Holly’s best friend, Ruby the Rabbit, came hopping up in a flurry. “Holly! Come quick! Max the Monkey and Gary the Giraffe are arguing over who gets to pick fruit from the tallest tree!”

Holly blinked. She didn’t like it when friends argued. She wanted to help, but what should she say? What if she made things worse?

She remembered something her grandma once told her: “When you’re not sure what to do, whisper a prayer to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your heart.”

So, right there under the acacia tree, Holly closed her eyes and whispered, “Dear God, please send Your Holy Spirit to help me. Show me what to do and say.”

She opened her eyes and smiled. “Let’s go see Max and Gary,” she told Ruby.

When they arrived, Max was swinging from a branch, his cheeks puffed with frustration. “It’s MY turn today!” he shouted.

Gary stomped his big feet. “But I saw the tree first! That fruit is mine!”

Holly took a deep breath. “Max, Gary, I understand you both want the fruit. But maybe there’s a way to share it. What if Max picks the fruit from the top, and Gary gathers the ones that fall? That way, you both work together.”

Max and Gary looked at each other, then slowly nodded. “That could work,” said Max. “Thanks, Holly.”

As they happily picked fruit together, Ruby leaned over. “How did you know what to say?”

Holly grinned. “I asked the Holy Spirit to help me.”

Later that week, Holly faced another challenge. Tilly the Turtle was sad. She felt left out because she couldn’t run fast like the others during the savanna races. Everyone teased her, and Holly felt angry inside. She wanted to yell at the other animals and tell them to stop, but again, she paused and whispered, “Holy Spirit, help me know what to do.”

The idea came softly and sweetly, like a gentle breeze.

Holly trotted over to the others. “Let’s have a different kind of race—a slow and steady one! Let’s see who can move the slowest and most carefully!”

The animals giggled, but they joined in. Tilly beamed with joy as she led the way in the slowest, steadiest race the savanna had ever seen.

“Thanks, Holly,” Tilly said. “You always know just what to do.”

“Not me,” Holly replied. “It’s the Holy Spirit who helps me.”

Another day, Holly was playing by the river when she saw Ella the Elephant crying under a tree. Holly walked over gently. “What’s wrong, Ella?”

Ella sniffled. “I spilled the water I was saving for my garden. Now I won’t have enough for my flowers.”

Holly wanted to cheer her up, but she didn’t know how. So once again, she closed her eyes and whispered, “Holy Spirit, what should I do?”

Then, Holly smiled. “Come with me, Ella,” she said.

Together, they waddled down to the river. Holly used her strong back to carry a big leaf like a bowl. Slowly, they filled it with water and brought it to Ella’s garden. They did this again and again until the garden had enough water.

Ella hugged her. “You’re the best friend ever, Holly!”

Holly laughed. “God’s Spirit gave me the idea. I just listened.”

That night, as stars twinkled in the sky, Holly sat beside the river. She thought about the week she’d had. She had helped Max and Gary share, made a special race for Tilly, and helped Ella water her garden. In each moment, she had paused and prayed. The Holy Spirit had gently shown her what to say and what to do.

Sometimes, the answer came as a thought. Sometime,s it came as a feeling in her heart. But every time, it helped her bring peace, kindness, and love to those around her.

From that day on, whenever her friends were unsure, they’d say, “Let’s ask Holly!” But Holly always reminded them, “I don’t have all the answers, but I know who does. Just whisper a prayer. The Holy Spirit is always listening.”

Moral of the Story: Pray continuously for the Holy Spirit to counsel you on what to do, think, or say. When you pause to ask for guidance, you’ll find peace, wisdom, and the right words—even when life feels confusing. God’s Spirit is your gentle guide, always ready to help when you call.