Foreword：
Thereissomethingmagicalaboutthemorning.It'satimewheneverythingisnewandfresh,andtheworldseemstocomealive.Thesunrises,castingawarmglowovereverythingittouches,andtheairisfilledwiththesweetscentofdew.Formanypeople,themorningistheirfavoritetimeofday.It'satimetostartfresh,tosetintentionsforthedayahead,andtofindinspirationintheworldaroundthem.Andforoneyounggirl,themorningwouldbecomeatimeofdiscoveryandjoy.Thisisherstory.HernamewasLily,andshewasacuriousandadventurousgirl.Shelivedinasmalltownsurroundedbyrollinghillsandfieldsofwildflowers.Foraslongasshecouldremember,shehadalwaysbeendrawntothebeautyofnature.Shelovedexploringthewoodsnearherhome,chasingbutterfliesthroughthemeadows,andwatchingthestarstwinkleinthenightsky.
Buttherewasonethingshehadneverpaidmuchattentiontobefore–themorning.Shewouldoftensleepinlate,missingoutonthebeautythatawaitedherjustoutsideherwindow.Butallofthatwasabouttochange.Onemorning,asshelayinbed,somethingcaughthereyeoutsideherwindow.Itwasarayofsunshine,filteringthroughthetreesandcastingawarmglowoverherroom.Shesatupinbed,intriguedbythisnewsight.Asshepeeredoutside,shesawthattheentireworldwaswakinguparoundher.Thebirdswerechirping,theflowerswereopeninguptogreetthesun,andtheairwasfilledwithasenseofnewnessandpossibility.Lilydecidedthenandtherethatshewouldstartwakingupearlyeverymorningtowitnessthismagicaltimeofday.Shewantedtoseetheworldcomealivebeforehereyesandexperiencethebeautyofthemorningforherself.Thefirstfewmorningsweretough.Shehadtoforceherselfoutofbedandresisttheurgetogobacktosleep.Butasshesteppedoutsideeachmorning,shewasgreetedwithanewandwondroussight.Theskywouldbeablazewithorangesandpinks,andthecloudswoulddanceacrossthehorizonlikewispsofcottoncandy.
Asshewalkedthroughthefieldsandwoods,shenoticedthingsshehadneverseenbefore.Thedewonthegrasssparkledlikediamondsinthesunlight,andthebirdsongwaslikemusictoherears.Shefeltmorealivethaneverbefore,andeachdaybroughtnewdiscoveriesandjoys.Onemorning,asshewaswalkingalongastream,shecameacrossafamilyofducksswimminginthewater.Theyweresopeacefulandcontent,andwatchingthembroughtasmiletoherface.Shesatdownonthebankandwatchedthemforawhile,feelingasenseofpeaceandcontentmentwashoverher.Anothermorning,shestumbleduponafieldofwildflowersthatseemedtostretchonforever.Thecolorsweresovibrantandalive,andthescentwasintoxicating.Shetookadeepbreathandfeltasenseofjoybubbleupinsideher.Shepluckedafewflowersandtwirledaroundinthefield,feelingfreeandalive.Asthedayswentby,Lilyfoundthatthemorningshadbecomeherfavoritetimeofday.Shelookedforwardtowakingupearlyanddiscoveringsomethingneweachday.Shefeltconnectedtotheworldaroundherinawaythatshehadneverexperiencedbefore.
Onemorning,asshewaswalkingthroughthewoods,shecameacrossanoldoaktree.Itwasmassive,withgnarledbranchesthatseemedtoreachuptothesky.Asshelookedup,shesawthattherewasanestinthebranches.Curious,sheclimbeduptogetacloserlook.Insidethenest,shesawthreetinyeggs.Shefeltasenseofwonderandaweassherealizedthatshewaswitnessingnewlifebeingborn.Shesatthereforawhile,watchingthemotherbirdcomeandgo,takingcareofherbabies.Itwasabeautifulmoment,andLilyfeltgratefultohavewitnessedit.Asthedaysturnedintoweeks,Lilybegantoseetheworldinadifferentway.Shenoticedthelittlethings–thewaytheleavesrustledinthewind,thewaythesunreflectedoffapuddleofwater,thewayabutterflylandedonaflower.Shefeltgratefulforthesemomentsandfoundjoyineventhesmallestthings.Onemorning,asshewaswalkingthroughameadow,sheheardasoundthatstoppedherinhertracks.Itwasthesoundofaviolinplayingasweetmelody.Curious,shefollowedthesounduntilshecameacrossanoldmansittingonabench.
Hewasplayinghisviolinwithhiseyesclosed,lostinthemusic.Lilystoodthereandlistenedforawhile,feelingasenseofawewashoverher.Whenhefinishedplaying,sheapproachedhimandthankedhimforsharinghismusicwithher.Theytalkedforawhile,andLilylearnedthattheoldmanhadbeenplayinghisviolineverymorninginthatspotforaslongashecouldremember.Hesaidthatthemorningwashisfavoritetimeofdaybecauseitremindedhimthateverydaywasagift,andthateverymomentwasworthcherishing.Lilyfeltinspiredbytheoldman'swords,andsherealizedthathewasright.Themorningwasagift,andeachdaywasanopportunitytofindjoyintheworldaroundher.Shedecidedthatshewouldcherisheverymomentandfindbeautyineventhemostordinarythings.Astheweeksturnedintomonths,Lily'sloveofthemorningonlygrewstronger.Shestartedwakingupevenearlier,eagertostartherdayandseewhatwondersawaitedher.Shefeltmorealiveandconnectedtotheworldaroundherthaneverbefore.
Onemorning,asshewaswalkingthroughthewoods,shesawagroupofchildrenplaying.Theywerelaughingandrunningaround,chasingeachotherthroughthetrees.Lilywatchedthemforawhile,feelingasenseofnostalgiawashoverher.Sherememberedherownchildhood,whenshewouldspendhoursplayingoutsideandexploringtheworldaroundher.Sherealizedthatshehadlostsomeofthatsenseofwonderandjoyasshegrewolder,andshevowedtoneverletgoofitagain.Asshecontinuedonherwalk,shefeltasenseofgratitudewashoverher.Shewasgratefulforthebeautyofthemorning,forthewondersofnature,forthepeopleshehadmetalongtheway.Sheknewthatnomatterwhatchallengeslayahead,shewouldalwaysfindjoyintheworldaroundher.Andso,Lilycontinuedtowakeupearlyeverymorning,eagertostartherdayandseewhatwondersawaitedher.Shefeltmorealiveandconnectedtotheworldthaneverbefore,andsheknewthatthebeautyofthemorningwouldalwaysbewithher.
ForLily,themorninghadbecomeatimeofdiscovery,joy,andgratitude.Sheknewthatnomatterwhatthedaybrought,shecouldalwaysfindpeaceandbeautyintheworldaroundher.Andthatwassomethingthatwouldstaywithherfortherestofherlife.
