Magic Beans

Lately the girls have been building little fairy houses around the huge tree in our yard.  Occasionally fairies move in, and leave treasures for the little hands that built them.  Last week the girls were gifted with little squirrels and a bag of magic beans.  We had been reading the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk" and Anastasia wondered if the fairies knew that, and that is why they left us magic beans.  I am sure fairies know a great deal more about us, than we do about them.

The girls ate most of the magic beans, but I convinced them to save a few, just in case they are really magical.  We took our magic beans and placed them in the ground in a sunny spot, then watered them. The girls spent the day wondering what the beans might grow into. Perhaps a beanstalk that will take us to a magical land?

When they woke the next morning, the girls looked out the window but there was not a beanstalk growing to the heavens.  At first they were disappointed, but then when they ran outside they found a little lollipop bush sprinkled with fairy dust and lollipops poking between the lovely flowers.  To say they were excited would be an understatement!  They really were magic beans! And they grew into magical lollipops!

 I have found many people don't like to encourage the ideas of fairies and magic to small children, for fear that they may question their faith later if all other things prove false (Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, etc).  I on the other hand, find that we are really opening up our children's mind and hearts to miracles and wonder, that they may be able to believe more strongly in that which we cannot see and touch.  I also think it helps children to think outside the box of our reality which is what the world needs most to fix the problems at hand.  A strong imagination is essential to childhood and builds a more thoughtful and dynamic person who isn't bound to the realities of this life, and who can love the world and the magic that nature and its Creator has to offer. 

 

May your week be filled with wonder and awe.