Good Books
I Wish You Love, Pooh
Ivy F. DeShield, contributing editor
If anything has been said to be worth more than its weight in gold, it is love. Throughout the ages, love has played more than a primary role in our interpersonal relationships and is the eternal connection to or remnant of our singular existence among family and friends long after we have passed from this earth. And while we are present, love for the self and others is a force that mysteriously propels us through all circumstances and motivates us to keep moving forward in this life.
Whether we live more than 25,000 days or only ten, we all experience love; yet, we still know so little of its power to heal and transform the mind, body and spirit for the better. To be conscious of love, to know it in its simplicity and entirety, is to be truly blessed. I say conscious, because love typically dons many disguises before it reveals its true self. Akin to earth, water and sky, love has such a natural presence that we often overlook its humble influence and beauty. But if we slow the hour hand for a moment and look more closely, we would see that love has purposely set a path in each of our lives. And it is up to us to discover that path and prepare ourselves for an immeasurable adventure with love leading the way. This adventure or journey of self-discovery, shaped by the love we have for each other and ourselves, is also one of the greatest legacies we can leave to our children. In their days ahead, love will be a most wonderful teacher, as Charles Dickens wrote.
To begin sharing these special lessons of love with your children, I offer A.A. Milne’s beloved classic story collection about an unforgettable bear and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie-the-Pooh. More than eighty years later, A.A. Milne’s original book, gifted to his son, Christopher Robin, in honor of his adored toy bear, still captivates audiences of both children and adults everywhere. Born of love, the character, Winnie-the-Pooh or “Pooh”, sets off on numerous adventures along the forest paths with his good friends, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, and all the rest in each of Milne’s memorable stories. For the youthful imagination, Milne leaves no stone unturned as enchantment and discovery await the lovable, motley group in every nook and cranny of the Hundred Acre Wood. And though enchanted forests may have their dark days, Pooh and his friends rely upon each other continuously for support, love and friendship. Their experiences are lessons worth repeating no matter how many times you have read these stories. There is something both innocent and captivating about their mindfulness, love and care for each other. Pooh and his friends, more so than anything else, value each other’s worth and do not take each other’s love for granted. This is a lesson that we all need to remember. As I stated before, it is up to us to discover the path that love has set before us and make our way from there as best we know how. There is no road map or detailed instructions; we just have to look to the heavens and hope, for love’s sake, if not for anything else.
“How do you spell ‘love’?" —Piglet
“You don't spell it...you feel it.” —Pooh”
—A.A. Milne