The Shadow of Your Wings

Getting "Real"

flutterby | September 29, 2008 23:11

One of my favorite stories is The Velveteen Rabbit by Marjery Williams. I’ve read it to my children and their children. The past few years I’ve encouraged friends to read it, to themselves.

It is a story about becoming “real.”

“What is Real?” asked the Rabbit … “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.”

Loving, and being loved, can leave you torn and tattered, it is true. Sometimes people, even those who love you, can rub your fur the wrong way, or tug on your ear until you think it may fall off. They don’t always consider how you feel when you’ve been left all alone in the yard, or stuck on a shelf in some out of the way corner. They may think of you occasionally, fondly, and might even look for you, only to be disappointed to find that you’ve changed over time … you’re not the soft, cuddly little bunny they remembered. You’re placed gently back upon the shelf, or tossed casually into a pile of other worn out toys, forgotten until some sweet memory stirs the heart.

“Does it hurt?” “Sometimes …”

How we respond to life, and love, reflects our Real-ity, which can only be found in Christ. As we begin to realize that there is One who REALLY loves us, ragged fur, torn ear and all, we find ourselves becoming Real - in the Spirit of love, and forgiveness, and peace - until a day comes when we can honestly say that we “don’t mind being hurt.” Then “you shall be Real to everyone.”

May the love of the Lord become so very real to us that it is “Real” through us.