I recently re-read a favorite child’s story, and it got me to thinking.
What it is to be real.
The Velveteen Rabbit (I strongly recommend it … for any adult!) is the story of a perfectly stuffed and decorated bunny, received with joy, by a boy, who heaped complete attention and dedication …
for a few short hours.
The Rabbit then gets put away in a toy cupboard, where he lives an awkward existenance with the other, more expensive, toys. There in the cupboard, he is befriended by the Skin Horse, an older and wiser toy, who teaches the Rabbit the most important lesson that any rabbit (or person) could ever learn …
what it is to be real.
Not long after, the Rabbit gets to experience what it is to be real, despite having the shine, the softness rubbed away. He was made real by the love of the little boy.
Due to unfortunate events, the Rabbit is tossed to the fire pile, and the rest … well now, if I tell you, you will never be motivated to read it ( http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/williams/rabbit/rabbit.html ).
At one point, the Rabbit is offered the ability to become, really real. His response was:
“wasn’t I Real before?”
And the response to his question was:
“You were Real to the boy, because he loved you …”
To be loved is know that you have value, worth, that you exist. To be loved is to be known, and to be needed, wanted. To be loved is to know purpose for life, for you have someone who makes life worth living.
“Dear friends,
let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
1 John 4:7
itsawonderfilledlife 