One day, a mother brought her son to the ocean. Together they watched as it gently splashed against the shore.
“Look, this is the mighty ocean,” the mother told her son. And a little droplet named Dewy was listening.
“That’s interesting! Why did she call the ocean ‘mighty’?” Dewy wondered.
“Do you really want to know?” the ocean asked the droplet.
“Yes, I really do!” he replied.
“First you must go on a journey,” the ocean said, “and when you return, I will let you know the answer.”
The ocean slammed two waves into each other, and Dewy was sent flying up into the sky, shimmering in the sun.
Then, a dark cloud came over the sky and covered the sun.
“Finally!” the cloud said. “We’ve been waiting for you. Now the journey will begin.”
The cloud called out to the wind, and the wind carried the cloud on her shoulders farther and farther from the ocean. It wasn’t easy for the strong wind to carry such a big, heavy cloud, but she carried it along until a loud burst of thunder sounded across the sky.
“Here the fields of wheat need water,” the cloud boomed. Until then it had not spilled a single drop. Relieved, the wind immediately stopped and Dewy rushed toward the ground.
***
While falling to the ground, the droplet was in such a hurry that he ran ahead of his friends.
“I need to return to the ocean so he can tell me why he is called ‘mighty,’” Dewy said.
Then, suddenly, a stalk of wheat spoke to him: “Droplet, would you quench my thirst, please?”
“I am in a hurry,” Dewy replied, “but if you need my help, I will stay,” and he stayed with the wheat until it had ripened.
“Thank you, droplet, you are very kind!” the wheat said as Dewy left to continue on his journey.
***
Dewy trickled down the wheat stalk, rolled down a slope and found himself in a stream.
“Where are you heading?” he asked the stream.
“I am heading for the fast river, which runs into the mighty ocean,” the stream told him.
“Then we are going the same way,” Dewy said happily.
“Yes, but there is much work ahead!” the stream warned him.
“Wonderful, I love to help!” Dewy replied.
The stream was whooshing along happily, and the droplets were having fun racing along inside her. But soon Dewy and the other droplets discovered large rocks on their path, making it very difficult for the stream to get through.
“Droplets!” Dewy called out. “Let’s clear the way.” He began to work quickly with his friends, and together they paved a path for the stream to get through. When the work was done, the stream thanked him saying, “You are a very patient droplet. Thank you.”
***
Soon Dewy left the stream and ran into the fast river.
“Where are you heading, fast river?” Dewy asked her.
“I am heading for the mighty ocean,” the river answered.
“Then I’ll go with you,” Dewy said.
He was running along with the river when suddenly they encountered a boat. The boat was also in a hurry to get to the ocean.
“Little droplet, I am in a big hurry,” the boat said. Would you push me and make me go faster?” he begged.
Since Dewy was also in a hurry, he knew how much the boat needed his help, and together with his fellow droplets, he carried the boat forward.
“Thank you!” the boat said, speeding away. “You are a very strong droplet.”
***
The ocean was very close. Dewy could already hear his loud waves. But then a young woman called out to him from the shore: “Oh, droplet, can you help me take care of my little child?”
“Certainly!” Dewy replied and he stayed with the mother and child.
He took care of the child, washed him, played with him, and sang lullabies to him. The child felt very safe and comfortable.
When the time came to say goodbye, both the woman and her child were very thankful.
“Thank you!” they said. “You are a true friend.”
***
As Dewy did not see anyone else needing his help, he ran to greet the ocean.
“How happy I am to see you again!” the ocean exclaimed, hugging the little droplet.
Dewy was overjoyed. Unable to wait any longer, he asked the question that he had been so eager to know the answer to, “So why do they call you ‘mighty’?”
“They call me ‘the mighty ocean’ because every droplet is very kind, patient, strong, and a true friend to all living things,” the ocean said proudly. “I am made of many droplets that are united as one whole. Our strength lies in our unity. Together we form a mighty ocean!”
“Now rest, Dewy,” the ocean said, “for you must be tired from your journey.”
And a great calmness spread over the ocean.