Becoming Real

[Guest guest]

Most of you have probably heard this story before, but it always touches my

heart so much I thought I'd share it here. It's " The Velveteen Rabbit " by

Margery Williams:

......................

 

" What is REAL? " asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side

near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. " Does it mean

having things that buzz inside you and a stickout handle? "

 

" Real isn't how you are made, " said the Skin Horse. " It's a thing that

happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to

play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. "

 

" Does it hurt? " asked the Rabbit.

 

" Sometimes, " said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. " When you are

Real you don't mind being hurt. "

 

" Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, " he asked, " or bit by bit? "

 

" It doesn't happen all at once, " said the Skin Horse. " You become. It takes

a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily,

or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time

you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and

you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at

all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't

understand. "

 

...........................

 

I hope we all will be blessed with becoming Real. Happy Holidays to everyone.

 

Love,

El