Story by Bill Conley
Moral:
Joy that comes from the world is temporary and often depends on circumstances,
praise, or possessions. But the joy that comes from the Lord is lasting, deep,
and unshakable—because it is rooted in love, gratitude, and truth. Teaching
children to seek joy in God’s presence rather than worldly rewards helps them
develop inner peace that lasts through all seasons of life. True joy is not
found in what we have but in who God is.
Lucy the Lamb was the happiest
little lamb in all of Greenhill Meadow—or so everyone thought. She bounced,
skipped, and sang as she pranced through the tall grass, her white wool always
tidy and her smile always wide.
But what the other animals didn’t
see was that Lucy’s joy only lasted as long as someone was watching.
If she told a funny joke and
everyone laughed, she felt joyful.
If she was praised for her neat wool or cute voice, her heart fluttered.
But if she was ignored, forgotten, or left out, her heart sank like a stone.
“I want to be the most joyful lamb
ever,” Lucy said one day. “But only if everyone knows it.”
She worked extra hard to be perfect.
She tried to win every game, sing the loudest songs, and wear the brightest
flowers. But the harder she tried, the more exhausted she became.
One afternoon, while Lucy was
practicing twirls by the pond, she saw Daisy Duck and Max the Mouse sitting on
a log, talking softly and laughing. Lucy pranced over, expecting them to move
aside and let her take center stage.
“Hi, guys! Want to see my best dance
yet?” she chirped.
Daisy smiled gently. “That’s okay,
Lucy. We were just having some quiet time.”
Lucy blinked. “Quiet time? That’s
boring. Don’t you want to laugh and clap and cheer?”
Max shook his head. “We’re just
happy being together.”
Lucy walked away, confused. “How can
they be happy without anyone watching or clapping?”
Later that day, Lucy sat under the
old oak tree, sulking. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like
dancing.
Just then, she heard soft humming.
She peeked around the tree and saw Grandma Sheep sitting in the grass, knitting
and singing an old song.
“You’ve got joy, joy, joy, joy down
in your heart...” she sang.
Lucy tilted her head. “Grandma, why
do you always seem happy, even when you're just sitting alone?”
Grandma Sheep smiled warmly.
“Because my joy doesn’t come from what’s around me—it comes from the Lord.”
Lucy scrunched her nose. “What do
you mean?”
“Sweetheart,” Grandma said, patting
the grass beside her, “real joy doesn’t come from applause or prizes. It
doesn’t depend on how many friends cheer for you or how many flowers are in
your hair. It comes from knowing that you are loved by God, no matter what.”
Lucy sat quietly, letting the words
sink in.
“But... I like when people notice
me. It makes me feel special.”
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying
kind words,” Grandma said. “But when we chase after those things to feel happy,
we forget the source of real joy. The kind of joy that stays, even on quiet
days or hard days, is the kind that comes from God’s love.”
Lucy looked at her hooves. “How do I
get that kind of joy?”
“Talk to God,” Grandma said. “Thank
Him. Spend time with Him. Ask Him to help you feel His joy, not just the
world’s.”
That night, Lucy knelt by her bed of
hay and whispered her very first quiet prayer.
“God... I want the kind of joy that
stays. Help me not need everyone to clap for me. I just want to feel You
smiling at me. Amen.”
The next day, Lucy still danced—but
not to impress. She sang—not for attention, but from her heart. And when no one
was watching, she still smiled.
Later that week, a rainstorm hit the
meadow, canceling the big picnic. Most of the animals groaned and pouted, but
Lucy twirled in the raindrops, giggling.
“What are you so happy about?” Benny
the Beaver asked.
Lucy beamed. “Even rainy days can be
joyful when your joy doesn’t come from the weather.”
Benny blinked. “That sounds... kind
of amazing.”
“It is,” Lucy said.
From that day on, Lucy still had fun
performing and making friends laugh. But she no longer needed applause to feel
full. Her joy now came from something deeper—something that couldn’t be taken
away by silence, storms, or someone else’s spotlight.
She had discovered the secret: joy
that comes from the Lord never runs out.
Moral Poem:
Joy that fades when no one cheers
Will vanish fast with doubt and fears.
But joy from God will always stay—
Through cloudy skies and sunny days.
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