The Selfish Secret

I have the joy and pleasure of reading to my son every evening before he goes to bed. In fact, I miss it when, on the odd night, I can’t. There have been a couple occasions where the story really stood out, with a great message or lesson being conveyed. We recently read just such a story called The Apple-Pip Princess (by Jane Ray).

What amazes me is how a truth shines so clearly when striving to be conveyed to a child. All the theoretical, heady explanations must, out of necessity, be set aside. What’s left is the core of the message that anyone can plainly see, combined with the element of igniting ones imagination.

How different it is when done for we as adults. For example, many are familiar with“The Secret”. I watched it a couple years ago on a recommendation. And there was alot of great stuff being said. Alot that I could relate to. But it left me feeling very off. Very empty. I knew immediately what it was. Touted to hold universal truths to happiness, the source for acquiring it was still being sought in materialistic means. And it pressed the notion of using these truths to continue doing for yourself. I think we’ve all seen many examples in our lives and our cultures where doing for yourself (unless it holds a higher purpose) leaves you unfulfilled,  dissatisfied and unhappy. Somehow the message of finding happiness and “wealth” in our lives got lost in the translation. Or in order to make loads of money, they decided to sell us on gaining riches, keeping us further from the path, on their way to being “happy”. Okay Shane, that’s enough. Okay.

Although it seems simple, common sense and obvious, sometimes it takes looking through the eyes of a child to grasp the treasure at hand. Without further a do, The Apple-Pip Princess:

“Let me tell you a story about something that happened a long time ago in a land far from here – a land ruled by an old king who had three daughters.

Their kingdom had once been covered in forests filled with birdsong, and the palace had been a busy and bustling place. But since the queen’s death, the heart had gone out of the kingdom – the winters were bitter, the summers were scorched, and the palace was filled only with sadness.

The people lived in tumbledown cottages and scratched a living from the dry earth. The animals were so skinny you could hear their ribs rattling, and the birds were too hungry to sing.

Now, before the queen had died, she’d asked each of her daughters to choose one of her possessions to remember her by.

Suzanna, the eldest princess, picked a pair of fine scarlet shoes, with heels that made sparks on the cobblestones. When Suzanna put them on, she felt tall and important.

Miranda, the middle princess, chose a magnificent mirror made of silver and pearls. She spent hours gazing into it, thinking herself quite the most beautiful princess there had ever been.

Serenity, the youngest princess, chose only a simple wooden box that she had loved since she was a baby.”

To be continued…..