Happy New Year, my fine friends and loyal readers. I hope all is well with you and the world that surrounds you. Coming off the holiday season, it occurred to me (not, by any means, a unique thought) that wouldn’t it be nice if everyone looked at life through the eyes of a child? Here’s a parable that reflects such a thought. Stash
Lesson To Be Learned
It was Sunday… a snowy January morning…
Martha Mouse peeked out of her burrow window.
She knew that she didn’t have any school today…
She had nothing else to do but play and play and play.
Squirming out of her warm flannel pajamas,
Martha moved quietly, not wanting to rouse her family.
She dressed in her winter coat, scarf, and mittens…
Tip toeing next door to her friends, the Katzenjammer kittens.
The house was dark and its curtains were still drawn;
Martha tapped lightly at the bedroom window of her friends.
Rubbing the sleep from their eyes, Carl and Cathy smiled…
They saw it was their neighbor Martha, the little mousey child.
Through the panes of frosted glass, Martha explained
That though very early, the day ahead lay full of promise…
There was icy excitement and adventure to be found
In the soft snowy blanket that now carpeted the ground.
The kittens quickly dressed and joined their friend outside.
Of necessity, they also moved with quick, deliberate stealth…
You see, their home harbored a deep intolerance towards mice.
To be seen in rodent company, well… that just wasn’t nice.
Disregarding family orders, throwing caution to the wind,
Carl and Cathy crept outdoors to Martha, their secret playmate.
The loving friends spent their day in bliss, frolicking in the snow.
(It surely wouldn’t hurt their parents, if their parents didn’t know.)
The friends shared hours of joy… of pure innocent delight;
Making angels in winter’s powdery gift, constructing forts,
Throwing snowballs, slip-sliding on the frozen lake…
They shared a warmth that prejudice could not unmake.
Afternoon’s sun began to dim; the playmates parted with a hug…
It was a day woven from childhood’s innocent intentions.
The friends had played in harmony… without hostility or shame…
Such a pity that most grownups are unable to do the same.
Stash