Once upon a time, high above the highest sky, there existed a kingdom made entirely of stars.
Its streets were paved with starlight, its houses built from fallen stars, its bridges spun from the Milky Way, and at the very center of the kingdom stood one great star, the brightest in the entire universe.
But no one knew where that star had come from.
A girl named Little Star traveled there by riding a shooting star that streaked past her bedroom window. When she arrived at the kingdom, the Keeper of the Stars welcomed her.
“What have you come looking for?” the Keeper asked.
“I want to know where the great star at the center of the kingdom came from,” Little Star answered.
The Keeper led her walking past thousands of stars, explaining that each one was the dream of a different child.
“This star came from a boy who dreams of becoming a doctor,” he pointed to a blue star. “This one came from a girl who dreams of becoming a teacher,” he pointed to a golden star.
Little Star walked and looked at each one, until she reached the great star at the center.
“Whose dream is this one?” she asked.
“It came from a child whose only dream was for someone they loved to be happy,” the Keeper said softly. “Not a dream for oneself, but for someone else. That kind of dream shines brighter than all the others.”
Little Star stood gazing at the great star for a long while, thinking about her own dreams. Up until now, she had dreamed of getting toys, of getting high scores, of being better than her friends.
“Can I make a new dream?” she asked.
“You always can,” the Keeper answered.
Little Star closed her eyes and dreamed that her mother, who worked so hard every day, could finally get some rest.
When she opened her eyes, a small, pale pink star had just appeared beside the great one.
It wasn’t large, but it shone brightly.
And it was hers.
Moral: The brightest dreams aren’t the ones for ourselves — they’re the ones where we wish happiness for someone we love. Wishing well for others is the greatest light in the entire universe.
