Once upon a time, nestled in a field of sunflowers taller than houses, lived a little bunny. This bunny, we’ll call him Pip, loved to hop and skip and play all day long. He had a wonderful life, full of sunshine and sweet clover to nibble. One day, Pip was hopping along, his nose twitching happily, when he stumbled upon a little bird with a broken wing. The bird was chirping sadly, its tiny body trembling.

Pip, though small himself, felt a strange feeling in his tummy. It wasn't a hungry feeling, or a scared feeling. It was a feeling of… something else. He carefully approached the bird and gently nudged it with his nose. The bird looked up at him with big, frightened eyes.

Pip didn't know what to do. He’d never seen a hurt bird before. He remembered his mother always saying that helping others made her feel warm and happy inside. So, he decided to do what he thought was best. He found some soft leaves and carefully made a little nest for the bird, tucked away under a large, shady mushroom.

He then hopped back to his burrow and fetched some juicy berries and cool water from his mother’s stash. (He knew he shouldn't have taken them without asking, but the bird looked so sad!) He carefully brought the berries and water to the bird, placing them gently near its beak.

The bird, weak but grateful, pecked at the berries and sipped the water. Pip stayed with the bird all afternoon, keeping it company and singing little bunny songs. As the sun began to set, Pip noticed the bird’s chirping was less sad, more cheerful.

That night, Pip snuggled into his burrow, feeling a warm glow inside. He thought about the bird and the feeling he had experienced earlier – the feeling he now understood was gratitude. It was a feeling of being happy and thankful for being able to help the bird. He felt grateful for his own strong legs that allowed him to hop and fetch things. He felt grateful for his mother’s berries, for the soft leaves, and for the shady mushroom. He felt grateful for having the strength and kindness to help someone in need.

The next morning, Pip hopped back to the mushroom to check on the bird. The bird was much stronger, its wing looking less broken. It chirped a happy song, a melody so sweet and bright it made Pip’s heart leap. The bird ruffled its feathers and looked at Pip. It seemed to be trying to say something, and then, it flew! It circled Pip once, twice, and then soared into the sky, disappearing into the blue.

Pip watched it go, his heart full. He felt that warm glow again, even stronger this time. It wasn't just the gratitude he felt for having helped the bird. He also felt grateful for his own health, his happy home, his loving family, and the beautiful sunny day. He realized that gratitude wasn't just about helping others; it was also about appreciating all the good things in his life.

Pip continued to hop and play, but now, he noticed things differently. He appreciated the sweet taste of the clover, the warmth of the sun on his fur, and the soft earth beneath his paws. He greeted the other creatures in the field with a happy hop, thankful for their presence in his life.

One day, he saw a little caterpillar struggling to climb a tall stalk of grass. Pip, remembering the bird, gently helped the caterpillar climb, feeling that familiar warmth in his tummy. He then saw a family of small creatures building a home, and he helped them carry some small twigs, feeling the wonderful feeling of gratitude growing stronger.

Over time, Pip learned that gratitude wasn't a one-time feeling; it was something he could feel every day, for all the big and small things in his life. He learned that being grateful made him happy, and being happy made him want to be kind and helpful to others, creating a wonderful circle of happiness and thankfulness.

He understood that being grateful wasn’t just about saying “thank you.” It was about recognizing and appreciating all the good things in his life, both big and small – the things he had, the things he could do, and the people and creatures around him. He learned that gratitude wasn't something you received; it was something you created within yourself by noticing and appreciating the wonderful world around him.

And so, Pip, the little bunny who learned about gratitude, continued his happy life, hopping and skipping and helping others, his heart always overflowing with thankfulness for all the blessings in his world. He knew that even on the cloudiest of days, there was always something to be grateful for, and that feeling of gratitude was the best feeling of all. And that, my little one, is why we feel grateful. It’s because there is so much good in the world, and when we notice it, it makes our hearts happy. So, let's think about all the things we are grateful for right now! What makes you happy and thankful today?