The Lantern Maker’s Gift
In the heart of a small town surunded by mountains, there lived an old man named Rahim. He was known as the lantern maker. Every evening, when the sun sank and shadows filled the streets, his little shop lit up with dozens of lanterns hanging like stars in the night. Rahim’s lanterns weren’t ordinary. People said they carried warmth—not just light. Perhaps it was the way he built them with care, or perhaps it was because every lantern carried a piece of his heart. But Rahim’s life hadn’t always been bright. Many years ago, he had been a wealthy merchant, traveling across cities. His home was filled with riches, but not with happiness. He was too busy chasing gold to notice the people around him. One night, a fire consumed his home. In minutes, everything he owned turned to ashes. The wealth he had once relied on was gone. Homeless and broken, Rahim wandered the town with nothing but despair. For weeks, he sat near the riverbank, questioning why life had been so cruel. One evening, as darkness covered the land, he noticed a little boy struggling to light a candle. The boy’s family was poor, and they had no oil for their lamps. The boy’s trembling hands tried again and again, but the candle refused to burn. For the first time in months, Rahim felt something stir in his heart. He picked up a piece of wood and carved a small lantern. It wasn’t perfect, but when he placed a candle inside, the dim flame grew steady. The boy’s eyes lit up brighter than the lantern itself. He ran home, clutching it as though it were treasure. That moment changed Rahim. He realized that true wealth wasn’t in gold or silver, but in the light we bring to others. From that day, he became a lantern maker. Years passed, and Rahim’s little shop became the soul of the town. Travelers who passed through always stopped to buy his lanterns. Some said they felt peace in their homes when Rahim’s lantern glowed in the corner. Others claimed the light guided them through hard times. But Rahim never charged much. “A lantern’s worth isn’t in its price,” he often said with a gentle smile. “Its worth is in the light it gives.” One winter, a terrible storm struck the town. Snow buried the streets, and for days, no sunlight touched the land. The power went out, and fear spread. Without warmth and light, families shivered in the dark. Children cried, and elders prayed for relief. On the third night, the mayor of the town came to Rahim. “Your lanterns are our only hope. Can you light the streets, Rahim?” Despite his old age, Rahim nodded. With his weak hands, he worked tirelessly through the freezing night, placing lanterns at every corner of the town. He gave away his entire stock without hesitation. Slowly, the streets began to glow. The town, once drowning in darkness, was filled with golden light. Families stepped out of their homes, warming themselves under the gentle glow. Children laughed again, chasing the shadows away. People who had never spoken to each other before shared tea and blankets under the lanterns. In the middle of that storm, Rahim’s light didn’t just brighten the streets—it brought hearts together. The storm lasted a week, but no one in the town felt truly lost. They had Rahim’s lanterns to guide them. When spring finally arrived, the townsfolk gathered at Rahim’s shop to thank him. But to their surprise, the old man was not there. He had passed away peacefully in his sleep, a smile resting on his face, as though he knew his work was complete. In his shop, they found a note written in shaky handwriting: “Do not cry for me. I lived my life as a flame—burning not for myself, but to light the path of others. Remember, the smallest light in the darkest night can change everything.” The town decided to honor him by keeping his shop alive. Generations after, the lanterns of Rahim continued to glow in homes and streets, reminding people that kindness is the truest light of all. And whenever the wind blew softly at night, the townsfolk swore they could hear Rahim’s whisper: "Be the lantern for someone else… and you will ne
