The most profound wisdom often comes from children’s storybooks…One of my all time favorite lessons for adults is found in The Velveteen Rabbit, written in 1958, by Margery Williams. Read along with me and find the Storybook Wisdom from the Skin Horse to the Velveteen Rabbit, who wanted to know what it meant to be Real-
‘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.’
‘Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,’ he asked, ‘or bit by bit?’
‘It doesn’t happen all at once,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or 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.’
Storybook Wisdom…on being Real. It doesn’t happen if you break easily, have sharp edges or have to be carefully kept. Hair loved off, eyes falling out, loose in the joints and very shabby, now that’s Real- Shabby Chic if you ask me. Can I get a witness? Have a blessed day!
Love y’all, Camellia
*Image of Margery Williams’ Velveteen Rabbit – hardback edition from Amazon.com, other images are from http://www.commons.wikimedia.org
*As a programming note:) – Cook and Enjoy Recipes honored Camellia’s Cottage allowing us a guest post on their site for ‘Bighearted Casseroles’Bighearted Casseroles – wow what an honor!
Camellia's Cottage 
Absolutely agree! Children’s books are so often the most profound of all, loved the Velveteen Rabbit!
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truly!! thanks for stopping by, always love to write something ‘wise’…xoxo
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Love this book, such an enduring classic! I have a copy from childhood that I read to my daughter now.
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Oh wonderful! thank you for reading it to your daughter! The very best thing we can do to jumpstart a good life is an early introduction to books! I know this is true because I taught 3 year old pre-school for 9 years!! xoxo
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I haven’t heard of this book but it sounds like there’s some wisdom is pouring out of it. I might just check it out, thanks for sharing.
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oh please do!! it is a short but wonderful book!
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Will do and enjoy your day.
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One of my all time favorite children’s classic! The minister actually included that portion in our wedding vows so many years ago! Thanks for posting! ❤️❤️
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oh how sweet! thanks for sharing your story! love it! xoxo
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So true!! I loved this book, ever since my childhood! And I have a teddy bear, as old as I am, that is Real now!
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it’s Real and it’s Shabby Chic! xoxo
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😀 Yup!
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Love you sis – sooo precious!
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Thank you darlin’ love you too!
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Thank you for the note regarding your casseroles post. It’s my pleasure to showcase such awesome recipes. My motto: Sharing is Caring!
Any of your followers are more than welcome to also follow me and participate in the Sharing is Caring recipe exchange. Hope to see many of them shortly.
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Velveteen rabbit is a great book
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it is! thans for stopping by!
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