The Gratitude Stars

Every night, before bed, there was one favourite game in the home of Baby Mo and Baby Ais. It was called: Collecting Stars.

But these stars were special. They weren't in the sky. They hid all through the day that had just passed.

"Let's collect today's stars," said Abi, sitting between two little beds. "One star for each thing we're grateful for."

Baby Mo thought hard. Then he cried, "Mam!" — meaning food. Today there had been his favourite fried banana. One star lit up.

Baby Ais pointed at her teddy. Today her bear had kept her company all day. Another star lit up.

"Abi has one too," said Abi. "I'm grateful I could come home and hug you both." A third star.

They kept counting. A star for the rain that made the grass green. A star for Umi's delicious cooking. A star for legs that can run. A star for eyes that can see the moon from the window.

The more they counted, the more stars they found. It turned out even an ordinary day is full of stars — if we're willing to look.

"Who lights all these stars?" asked Abi softly.

"Allah," answered Baby Mo, almost asleep.

Abi smiled and tucked them both in. "That's right. And Allah loves a heart that knows how to give thanks."

"If you are grateful, I will surely increase you." (Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:7)

That night, Baby Mo and Baby Ais drifted to sleep beneath a heart-ceiling full of stars. Not because their day was perfect — but because they'd learned to count what was enough, not what was missing.