Tuesday, January 13, 2009

from "The Velveteen Rabbit"

enjoy....i think there's some great wisdom and truth in this classic story...

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out 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?"
"Sometimes." 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, or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or who 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."

7 comments:

Leighann said...

i would add you become
REAL when you really love a child...they don't have to love you back yet. Good stuff.

Tisha said...

That is one wise rabbit!

Michelle said...

My cousin had this read during her wedding and I thought it was a neat addition.

Christy said...

i love the part about love hurting...so true, huh?? well i love YOU my friend (not in a hurtful way though) and I'm totally COUNTING DOWN!!!....

Jenkins said...

That is my absolute favorite book and I have always loved that quote. We have used that quote at my grandfather's big birthday.
It is fantastic!

Kate and Geoff said...

That's amazing. Its been way too long since I read that book.

Katy said...

oooh i love that. haven't read it in a while. especially the part about people who have to be "carefully kept".