Rama's army reached the ocean's edge, but they still needed to cross. So they decided to build a bridge all the way to Lanka.

The monkeys and bears worked day and night, carrying huge rocks and trees into the sea, and the bridge grew across the water. In many tellings, the stones floated because they were marked with Rama's name.

Many grandparents add a sweet story here. A tiny squirrel wanted to help too. It couldn't carry rocks, so it rolled in the sand on the beach, ran onto the bridge and shook the sand off, filling the tiny gaps between the stones. Again and again.

Some of the monkeys laughed at the little squirrel. But Rama picked it up, thanked it and gently stroked its back with three fingers. People say that's why squirrels in India have three stripes on their backs.

The squirrel's help was small, but it was everything the squirrel had to give, given with love.

No help is too small. What matters is giving your best, whatever size it is.