Sleepy Thérèse and the Little Night Angel

A simple bedtime story for a rural Minnesotan toddler Thérèse lived in a little farmhouse by the quiet Minnesota fields. Every night, the sky turned soft and pink, and the cows said moo very softly, like they were getting sleepy too. Thérèse put on her fuzzy pajamas. She hugged her stuffed lamb. Mama whispered, “Jesus loves you, sweet girl.” Thérèse liked hearing that. It made her feel warm like hot cocoa. One night, after Mama turned off the light, a tiny glow appeared by Thérèse’s window. It was a little night angel, no bigger than a firefly. Its wings fluttered like gentle snowflakes. “Hi Thérèse,” the little angel whispered. “I came to help you sleep.” Thérèse smiled a sleepy smile. The angel floated above her blanket and glowed like a soft night-light. Outside, the barn cat curled up in the hay. The cows lay down in the field. The wind made a soft hush sound across the grass. Everything was getting quiet. The little angel said, “Everyone is resting now. The world is sleepy. Even the stars.” Thérèse looked up at the stars through her window. They blinked very slowly, like they were yawning. The angel hummed a tiny lullaby. Hummm… hummm… hummm… Thérèse’s eyes began to blink slower too. Her stuffed lamb felt extra soft. Her blanket felt extra cozy. The angel whispered, “Jesus watches over you all night. You can rest. You are safe.” Thérèse cuddled deeper into her pillow. Her breathing got slow and soft. Hummm… hummm… hummm… The angel’s glow got smaller. The stars got softer. The house got quiet. “Goodnight, Thérèse,” the angel whispered. “Sleepy time now.” And Thérèse drifted into cozy sleep while the little angel watched over her, quiet and still, until morning light.