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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of inspirational short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

6100+ Inspirational Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From tales of the miraculous to stories of extraordinary people overcoming incredible odds, you’ll always find something uplifting in our collection of inspirational short stories.

Inspirational Short Stories – Page 354 of 407

What Hides Behind Unlocked Doors

Submitted to Contest #77

I’ll never forget December 25th of 1995. I’d taken the holiday shift that year. I don’t have kids like all the others, so it only felt right, you know? I’d thought it could be my Christmas gift to my co-workers. What could it hurt, huh? Most places are closed on Christmas, but not us.  Nah, the thing about working at a theater house is that there’s always a Christmas show. The Nutcracker is popular, so are various religious reenactments, and choirs singing medleys of carols are almost a standard.  And so, the theater house is ...

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The Archeress Bow

Submitted to Contest #78

The archeress bow the story will be in long dialogue, like a play.Flashback:“Pull back.....slowly.....and.....FIRE”!“THUNK” “Yes, bullseye”“Nice shot, Anastasia, you know hitting a bullseye like that is gonna get you somewhere someday”.“I know that and thank you, not to mention this isn’t the first bullseye I’ve made”.“You are literally the best archeress I’ve ever known and met”.“Haha I’m the only archeress you’ve ever met and I’m probably gonna be the only one you know that can hit 4 bullseyes in a row”.“That’s true, I mean who c...

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Unfrozen

Submitted to Contest #77

If Paul Simon’s "I Am a Rock” were a picture, I’d be it. A winter day, gray and raw, the kind of cold you feel right through the window. I am staring out my window at a blanket of snow.  But, it's not the weather that keeps me inside. It's not even the pandemic. It’s not even agoraphobia. It's not the world I want to avoid, just people. I’m not antisocial. More asocial. People just aren’t my thing. Books, the piano, cooking, the New York Times crossword, I could spend hours with those. But people?&n...

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Room No. 908

Submitted to Contest #77

It had been over 10 years that Ron lost his job as a software developer in his favorite company, the company that everyone dreamed of getting a job in his city, and just like any other guy, Ron also wanted to be a part of that company. He got to work with it and everything was going smoothly until one day when he got involved in an argument with his senior that turned into a fight between the two. This resulted into the loss of his dream job and respect in the whole city. After this incident, none of the company was ready to offer him job. L...

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Mara’s Snow Coat

Submitted to Contest #77

The fingers of white morning light reached into the bedroom on the east side of the home. They stretched into each corner and brightened each crevice, scaring away the monsters that lurked in the shadows. The light gave the small room a blue-tinted glow, hinting that it had arrived for the first time this season. Mara squinted her eyes open as the light caressed her face. Crawling out of bed, Mara’s feet touched the icy wooden floorboards. The room was freezing. As the nine-year-old Mara tip-toed across the wood wit...

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BIZARRIE BLIZZARD

Submitted to Contest #77

Madhavi was grazing through Times of India newspaper. She accidentally sighted a small news item on a road accident in Japan highway. She normally would never read such items as these road accidents had become an almost routine affair. But this particular piece of item was about Japan. Hence the go-through. It gave a detailed account of one person’s death and 17 people’s injury, 200 more stranded on the road with a massive pile up of 134 cars on highway. All due to a truck which got rammed into a passenger car. The blizzard and heavy snowfal...

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The Music of Love

Submitted to Contest #78

Addae’s worn dark hands closed around the covered box. Based off of the online picture, it was old, rust already creeping up the ornate metal designs. It had taken him a while to find the right box, but Addae was glad he had waited.  He hadn’t seen a box like this one since his childhood, back when they were still in use. It was difficult to find a music box, these days. The musical wonders of his childhood had been sold off, replaced with shiny electronic rectangles without buttons or cranks. Addae still preferred the boxes, however. ...

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Snow Day

Submitted to Contest #77

Jessie wakes up and looks out the window to find a powdering of pure white snow on the ground with big fluffy chunks coming down. How beautiful! she thinks to herself.   She wondered why it had been so cold the night before. Originally it was only supposed to get down to 45. However, when she woke up in the middle of the night and had to pull up her blanket she knew it had gotten far colder.   Now if she could just make herself go out and enjoy it. That would be amazing, specially considering sh...

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A Good Neighbor

Submitted to Contest #78

      “Anything you need, you need to just take that phone and ring my number!” Ariya said, smiling, as she waved at the middle-aged woman in front of her.        “You’re always so kind, you know,” Tami commented, her eyes twinkling as she shut the door after Ariya.  “No one ever bothers to wave anymore.”      Ariya nodded wistfully.  “It’s sad, isn’t it?”      Ariya turned and breathed in the sweet January air.  ...

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How to confront your resentment

Submitted to Contest #77

A piece of bread had stabbed the inside of my mouth. The irony that the corner of a burnt piece of bread could cause me such pain wasn’t lost on me. Not when Holly was sending raging dark clouds across the pale sky – all the way from Texas. I shifted my creaky office chair forward and dropped my head to brace for the impact of her next assault.“Elmer, this is the fifth time you have messed this up. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL GRANT – I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE...” The first couple of seconds were always hard. Teeth grinding and clenching hands. But...

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Believers

Submitted to Contest #77

Dancing is supposed to be an impossible thing. The trained finesse, soaring, rhythms so easily woven around the lyrics. The catching beat, graceful legs, emotion, a pirouette, and a walk across the stage. Anything that beautiful is surely impossible, but yet, they still jump and leap and twirl. You will see in time because change tends to happen, and then again, so does life.  ~Magic~ The simple gifts, Fairy dust and rainbows, Teas clinking in the silence, Beauties of the sunset.  Dancing in the moonlight,  Wishin...

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Winter's Sonata

Submitted to Contest #77

As I am looking outside the window, I noticed the small white balls falling from the sky. These little balls make many people happy and busy.Snowmen will rule the streets once again. Kids will start laying on the ground full of snow to create their own snow angel. Mothers will start making hot soups full of veggies and stuff. Lovers will have enough reason to meet and cuddle on a small couch. While I am here reading a crappy email and eating a leftover pizza. I hate pepperoni.Dear Winter,Thank you for your interest in applying for the Virtua...

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There is More than Glass between the Snow and the Huge Roses. Louis MacNeice

Submitted to Contest #77

When she was at primary school, Carmel learned about the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Her teacher, Mrs Bennett was a creative sprite and she used to get the children to draw pictures of each season and Carmel enjoyed these lessons. She came from a local farm, in South Derry and from an early age she was aware in the spring, the fields were ploughed, the seeds were planted, and in the autumn the crops were harvested.  When she went to Queen’s University, in 1975, she stayed in Aquinas Hall which was student accommod...

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In the winds of Himalayas

Submitted to Contest #77

Dear diaryI loved the Himalayas since I was a kid. It always fascinated me, there was a different vibe I used to get from these mountains. They were tall, gigantic, and handsome like me. I know you must be thinking that I am crazy for comparing myself with the Himalayas, but these mountains do relate to me. People always get bored of the chilly winds and frosting snow, but I never displeased it. The chilly winds gave me comfort and a sense of true worth, which I found impossible to find amidst this chaotic world.Life once again has brought m...

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Ready to accept !!!

Submitted to Contest #77

Lisa walks through the way. She is tired. The sun is above her head. So deep that’s striking touch. She can't hold that anymore. Oh! I'm thirsty. Some drops of water from bottle, gives a polite kiss. Ah!!!!! What a pleasant time! I'm walking for a long time, about 3 months. But still I can't reach my goal. God knows what's waiting at the next part of this trip? Hope all should be done gratefully. I can’t hold back from this stage. It’s a turning point in my life. Plz, God! Help me at all verses. Lisa, a young lady of 25 yrs old . She ...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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