The Little Cloud and the Clear Sky

A Bedtime Story for Children Inspired by Tibetan Buddhism and Mindfulness

Once upon a time, high above the Earth, there was a vast, clear sky. The sky stretched far and wide, so peaceful and bright that everyone who looked up felt warm and safe. The sky never worried; it didn’t change or rush. It simply was—always calm, always clear, like a gentle friend watching over the world.

One morning, a little cloud appeared, floating softly across the sky. The cloud was light and fluffy, happy to drift along without a care. But as the day went on, the cloud began to wonder. “What if I get too big?” thought the little cloud. “What if I block the sun and make everything dark? What if I become a storm?”

With each worry, the little cloud grew larger and heavier, its soft edges becoming thick and dark. “Oh no,” thought the cloud, “I’m growing too fast. I don’t want to stay like this!” The more it worried, the more it puffed up, until it was almost ready to burst.

The sky, watching calmly from behind the cloud, whispered softly, “Why are you so worried?”

“I’m afraid I’ll never be light and small again,” said the cloud. “What if I get stuck like this forever, covering up the sun and making people sad?”

The sky smiled, its voice gentle and kind. “Little cloud, you don’t have to worry about staying big or small. Clouds are always changing—they come and go, just like your thoughts and feelings. No matter how big or small you become, I am always here behind you—clear and open, never changing. You don’t need to be afraid.”

“But what if I can’t change?” asked the cloud. “What if I never go away?”

The sky shimmered, glowing with a quiet, peaceful light. “Even if you stay a little longer, you are still just passing through, like all clouds do. No matter how big you are, you cannot change the sky. I’m always here behind the clouds, calm and steady, waiting for you to rest.”

The little cloud listened carefully. It thought about how the sky always stayed the same, no matter how many clouds came and went. Slowly, the cloud stopped worrying and let itself just be—no longer trying to be small, no longer afraid of being big. It realized that, no matter what, it was part of something bigger, something steady and kind.

As the cloud let go of its worries, it started to shrink back to its soft, fluffy self. It became lighter and lighter, until it gently floated away, disappearing into the vast blue sky.

The sky remained, bright and clear, just as it had been all along. The little cloud knew, deep inside, that the sky had always been there—and always would be—no matter how many clouds came and went.

And so, the little cloud drifted off into the distance, feeling peaceful and light, knowing that the sky would always be there to hold it, just like the quiet, calm mind that rests behind all our thoughts and worries.

As you fall asleep tonight, remember that your mind, like the sky, is always calm and clear behind all your thoughts and feelings. Goodnight, and may your dreams be as peaceful as the clear sky.

🙏🕊️🙏

---

If you’d like to explore more bedtime stories for children, including tales that nurture compassion and mindfulness, you can find our collection here.

---