There’s an empire above the clouds. You can’t see it. Can’t hear it even.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpWNhrhK4m
But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. You can’t see or hear the air, can you? But’s it’s there, and it keeps us alive.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BywU2N50Y
Not many people know of this empire, or they forgot the tale with age, but I keep it close to my heart still.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnJQafwHCZ
The story goes that a crystal-eyed dragonfly once wanted to fly up and up into the air, higher than any before, to look down on the world and everything on it. So he trained and trained, and eventually, he soared above the clouds.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TkHVyYHOp
He didn’t know what he would find. Birds who wanted to eat him? Giants like in those old tales? Planes who flew faster than anything else? He didn’t know, and when he realized that, he couldn’t help but fly back down to the earth.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAOfM4q7sM
One day, when he was feeling sad and hopeless, he met a bumblebee by the name of Espoir. He wasn’t like the dragonfly. No crystal eyes, no rainbow wings, just a furry black and yellow body and eyes like coal.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22ksj5IbVI
When he saw the dragonfly, he flew over and asked, “Why is the dragonfly not flying high like he so often does?”
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtt9vDySbf
The dragonfly answered, “Because I am scared of what is beyond the clouds. I don’t know if I will come down, or if giants will keep me as a pet.”
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcecw5Kmg6
Espoir laughed and smiled kindly at the beautiful creature. “You don’t fly because of what you can’t see? You can’t see the wind, can you? But it carries you, helps you and me to fly.”
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIzq5Rqj6O
The bee was hardworking and busy, so after that sentence, he flew off back to his hive. The dragonfly thought about flying again, and decided to take the bee’s advice.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjxn5IQGGx
Up and up he flew once more, and this time he dared not look down nor into the future. He just focused on the present, for the present is a gift is it not?
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfrBSizRMB
He made it above the clouds and looked down.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eLQ47Eosw
“And look!” he couldn’t help but cry.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95vgzOCjOR
Beautiful white clouds and a beautiful blue and green world. No giants and no nasty birds or planes. Just the clean air and a newfound courage.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5tcT6kKo6
He ruled there forever on as an empire, the one above the clouds, coming to children in this tale and others to tell them that you should not be scared to stretch your wings, to not be scared of what lies ahead.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvxMFEdWv2
Life is a journey. Life needs such courage.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjmRjA6G8b
He named that empire Espoir, after the one who had faith in him. Do you know what that name and word means now?
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtTTVqguZn
Hope.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW2zlCNGan
As the dragonfly rules over the Empire of Hope, so do you have the power to rule the empire of your dreams.
1180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUlr5sbOeM
Soar high, and don’t forget such a beautiful empire.
