The Day the Sun Faced Her Clouds written & illustrated by Rylee Dunn
The Day the Sun Faced Her Clouds written & illustrated by Rylee Dunn
“The sun is a daily reminder that we too can rise again from the darkness, that we too can shine our own light.� -s. ajna
Each morning, the Sun wakes up and thinks about the world below. She has an important job of providing warmth and light during the day.
She knows that if her light weren’t shining, the world would be cold and gloomy. From sun-up to sun-down, she tries hard to be sunny and bright.
She’s used to this side of herself; it’s all she’s used to showing the world. Any clouds that drift her way she tries to ignore so they don’t get in the way of her light.
But one day, clouds crept in that she couldn’t avoid.
The clouds blocked all of her light and she felt trapped! ‘Where did these come from?’ she wondered. Little did she realize that a storm was brewing around her all along. She became upset, and before she knew it, she started to weep.
She was surprised to hold these feelings inside her, she’d never acted on them before.
Confused as she was, she decided to turn to her friends for help. She went to find Mama and Papa Bird.
“Hello dear Sun! We’re happy to see you; you’ve seemed a little under the weather,” said Papa Bird.
“Hello Mama and Papa Bird. Truth is, I haven’t been feeling like myself lately,” sighed the sun. “And why is that, dear?” asked Mama Bird. “Why, I just don’t really know. These clouds rolled in and I just can’t shine my light like I’m used to.” “Why, everyone gets a little down sometimes. Don’t fret too much about it,” Mama Bird chirped.
“Have you thought much about what brought these clouds in?” wondered Papa Bird. “Well, no, not really. I just figured someone else could cheer me up,” replied the sun.
Mama Bird chipped in, “Dear, you have so much light and warmth inside you. You have to bring that out yourself. You do such a good job shedding light onto others, but don’t forget to give yourself a turn.”
The sun was a bit confused by what Mama and Papa Bird meant, but she thanked them and went on her way. She thought hard about what the birds said to her and tried to shake the clouds away once more.
With no luck, the clouds grew heavy and she started to weep again.
“Oh, how silly this is. I’m the sun! I’m bright and caring and kind and hard-working, and none of that has to change because of these clouds.”
Saying these words to herself made the clouds part just a bit, but before she could make herself believe any of it, she talked herself down again. “Oh, but what use is any of it if all that stuff can’t show through these clouds! What use am I if others can’t enjoy my light?”
Just then, the moon peeked out from behind the mountains. Shocked to see the sun caught at a storm in this hour, he wanted to see how he could help.
“Good evening Sun. Why are you weeping?�
“Oh Moon, I’m sorry. I’ve been feeling very lost. I just don’t know why these clouds are around me, and they’re keeping me from warming and illuminating the earth.”
“Dear Sun, is that all you’re concerned about? Keeping others warm and happy?”
“Why, it’s what I’m good at. Everyone enjoys their days more when I’m shining and the skies are blue.”
The moon had an idea, “Hey Sun, who do you paint the sunrises and sunsets for?”
“I like to start and end the day with pretty colors. Early in the morning is the only time I really have to myself, and in the evening I like to welcome you with a bright sky,” the sun smiled.
“Well that’s lovely,” the moon commented, “and thank you. Your sunsets always bring a smile to my face. You paint them beautifully.”
The moon went on, “Though you said something I have to ask about: painting the clouds is the only time you take for yourself?”
“That does sound a bit alarming, doesn’t it?”
“I think these clouds crept in for that reason exactly. It doesn’t sound like you let yourself sit with your feelings very often.”
“That’s all the clouds are telling you. If you ignore them too long, they’ll only grow bigger and get in your way.
But if you sit with them and think things through, they’re sure to move away sooner.”
The sun nodded, “I get it now. That makes me feel a whole lot better. Why, Moon, how can I properly thank you?
The moon smiled, “Why don’t you just paint one of your pretty sunsets? I’d love to see what colors you bring out this evening.”
And with that, the clouds parted further, and the sun painted her most vivid sunset yet before wishing the moon goodnight.
And when the morning came around, she excitedly grabbed her paints and woke the world up with a beautiful sunrise. This went on day after day, and she stopped ignoring the clouds when they would roll in. She learned to be proud of herself when her light was shining, and to be patient with herself when a storm crept in. The storms helped her grow stronger and wiser. She eventually learned that everyone has to accept feeling sad from time to time. No one, not even the bright and shining sun can escape that.
This page explains what the purpose of the book is, which evidently is a therapeutic effort to manage my own codependent tendencies learned over the last 21 years. I hope the kids enjoy and learn how to find their own happiness, because it’s hard to teach oneself later on.
The Sun has a reputation for her bright and beaming attitude, but what happens when one day, clouds disrupt her light? Follow along with the sun as she learns that her own inner light and happiness is not determined by her worth as seen by others.