Once Upon A Time....

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Roderick, there were two little Princesses. Even though they lived in separate castles, they were very close, yet very different.
Princess Leanah was a shy, sweet and quiet, rather frail little three year old.  Princess Cyndi was a strong, energetic, dramatic and sometimes a rather loud two year old.  The two little girls loved to spend time together playing with their dolls or running with their older brothers (when they would allow it). Princess Cyndi, although younger, took care of her older cousin sensing her shy, quiet spirit.
Then one day a wicked curse came upon the kingdom and Princess Cyndi was struck with a terrible illness.  She was taken away from her dear cousin and it was difficult for Princess Leanah to understand.  Where had her Cyndi gone? Why wasn't she coming to run and play?  The King and Queen of Keen tried to explain to their precious daughter that little Cyndi was very sick and was in the Royal Hospital but that she may never get to walk and run again.
It was difficult for this three year old to comprehend this explanation and all she really did know is that she missed her friend and cousin very much.  Then on Christmas Day, after she had opened all her presents, the King and Queen told her they had a very special gift for her.  Cyndi was sitting up and would be able to have visitors today.  Princess Leanah was going to get to play with her cousin today.  She could hardly wait.

When they arrived at the hospital, Leanah found a frail, shy, sad little girl sitting on a strange throne with big wheels. They tried to tell her this was her beloved Cyndi but it was hard to believe.  This wasn't the happy, fun and chubby playmate she remembered but inside this three year old knew this was her Cyndi. She could see it in her eyes.  And then a transformation took place.  Princess Leanah became a mother lioness.  She became strong and protective of her little cousin. She knew in her heart that she would always be there for her.  She would be her legs and her arms and anything else she needed.  She would watch over her forever.
When Princess Cyndi came home from the hospital Leanah began pulling her around in her red flyer coach wherever she wanted to go.  She used her strong legs to pull her on a sled or push her on a tricycle. 
Leanah couldn't bare to have her out of her sight.  At one point they thought they should separate the two girls in Sunday School so Leanah would be more apt to concentrate on the lesson rather then Cyndi.  But she threw such a fit, crying uncontrollably that her Cyndi might need her, that they had to put them back together.  Leanah would even learn to pick her up when she fell. They did everything that all little girls do and they did it together.

These two little Princesses would grow to have Kingdoms of their own but one thing will always remain the same. They would always love each other and share the special  bond of their childhood and they would both live happily ever after.

 

The Piano Bench

By the forth grade, I had these braces and crutches pretty well mastered.  No longer did I rip them off the minute I got home from school.  Therefore, my braces were beginning to wear on the back of my leg.  Back then, braces were made of steel covered with leather so I was down to bare steel.  Consequently, I could easily scratch a chair when I sat in them.  I had probably scratched many a church pew.
My forth grade year in school I was mainstreamed into a regular classroom.  A little girl named Marcy reached out to me.  She was an only child and we became wonderful friends.  I would spend many nights at her home playing.  I had a very special bond with her daddy.  A child senses when they are loved and her parents truly loved me and I them.  I remember her parents taking me to concerts, plays and programs at the college right along with Marcy.  Her dad would carry me to and and from the car in the winter or when I got tired.  It was then I noticed he walked with a limp.  He shared with me that he had polio at the age of 10 and after 27 surgeries he could walk with a slight limp.  That was the first time I realized that polio had many faces.  Her daddy had a servant's heart and was always very thankful for what he had and for what God had done for him.
Marcy played the piano.  Her grandmother had paid for her to take lessons from the time she was five.  Her great grandmother had been putting away money from war bonds to buy Marcy and her mom a piano someday.  Marcy's family had just moved into a beautiful house in town.  It was the most beautiful house I think I had ever seen and even when I drive by it today, I still can see two little girls playing make believe inside with Marcy's little dog.
Little by little her parents were furnishing the house and Marcy's mom began to look for a used piano but she was reminded by her grandmother that there was money for a brand new piano. "Just go pick out whatever you want". So she picked out the most beautiful brown wood, high gloss piano she could find. A few days later I came for a visit and Marcy and I couldn't wait to sit at the piano. 
Two years ago Marcy shared the "rest of the story" with me at our high school reunion.  This is what she told me in her words:  "After you went home Cyndi, mom came into the living room and saw scratches on the piano bench from your braces and she began to cry.  My dad told her not to cry, that Cyndi didn't mean to do it.  She said "Of course not but I don't know how to repair it and grandmother hasn't even seen it yet."
My daddy said "We are NOT going to fix the bench (as he loving touched the marks on the bench). Every time we look at it we will think of the joy and love that Cyndi brings.  It will always remind us of her and it will always remind me of how fortunate I have been.  I simply wish I could share my good fortune with her."
To this day the piano is proudly displayed in my parents living room.  When mom plays she often looks down at the bench and smiles. I have often seen dad sit on the bench feeling the marks as he is talking."
I thanked Marcy for telling me that story with tears in my eyes.  I try everyday to ask the Lord to help me be a blessing to others.  Why?  Because I have been so blessed to have so many people who have loved me along the way.