Seeking Truth
even when it is uncomfortable
“Daddy? Can I ask you a question?” said Emily to her father who was raking the leaves from their front lawn. Emily was a 6-year-old inquisitive girl. She was curious about everything which sometimes resulted in trouble. One time, after watching a bumble-bee up-close for several minutes, observing it roam from flower to flower, she decided she wanted to pet it. So, she grasped it into her hand and before she could feel how fluffy she thought it would be, she felt how sharp it could be. But today, she was wondering about something else.
“Sure, honey. What is it?” Emily’s dad responded.
“Where do the stars go in the daytime?”
“Oh, well…,” her dad looked up at the blue sky above them. “Well, they have to sleep, too. So, they sleep during the daytime. That way they can shine brightly all night.”
“When we’re asleep,” she added.
“Yes. That’s right,” her dad replied.
“Ok,” said Emily, satisfied. She returned her attention to the pile of leaves in front of her.
Later that evening in the fading light of the sunset, Emily was on the front porch with her head in her mother’s lap. Her mother was gently stroking Emily’s curls and humming softly when Emily noticed the first few stars that were just beginning to appear.
“Good morning, stars,” she said to them out loud.
Her mother smiled then looked up at the twilight sky.
“That’s an interesting thing to say to the stars. Is it morning for them?” she asked Emily.
“Yes. Daddy said that they sleep all day so they can be awake all night.”
“Oh. He said that, did he?”
“Yup. He’s right, isn’t he?” Emily asked.
“No. The truth is, the stars are in the sky all the time, even during the day.”
“But they’re sleeping. That’s why we can’t see them,” said Emily.
“We can’t see them because the sunlight is so much brighter than the stars. That sunlight gets scattered by all the dust and water droplets in the air which turns the sky blue. So, all that sunlight outshines the light of the stars,” her mother explained.
Emily thought for a moment.
“Oh,” she said.
Then Emily looked out at the growing number of appearing stars.
“Mommy?” she asked after another moment.
“Yes, dear?”
“I think I like Daddy’s answer better.”
Her mother smiled and began stroking Emily’s hair again.
“That’s fine, dear,” she said then resumed humming her lullaby.
There comes a time in life when it’s important to accept the truth, even if that truth is complex or uncomfortable.
Let’s hope Emily discovers that truth before she is of the age when she must make important choices on her own.
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That was a sweet story . I like Dad's story best too.