Monday, September 27, 2010

Sage Advice

How do the very young become so very wise? My six year old granddaughter and I sat on the porch swing, enjoying the refreshing autumn breeze on a Sunday afternoon. She'd found a wondrous rock, all smooth and shining with the most interesting indentations around the circumference of its egg-shaped surface. This special rock exuded magical properties.  It was a wishing rock. She informed me we needed to hold this lucky rock against our foreheads, close our eyes and make our wishes. The rock allowed us each three wishes. I didn't know how she knew this, but such sincerity shone in her clear blue eyes, I didn't doubt her a bit.


She held the rock to her forehead, closed her eyes and made her wishes. Then she pressed the cool stone of promise against my brow so that I could make mine. I made my wishes. Who wouldn't take a chance at a little extra luck? I opened my eyes and asked her what else we should do to make certain our wishes came true? Did we need to keep them a secret? What were the wishing rock's rules?

Her eyes widened and she stared at me. "YaYa, don't you know the secret to making all your wishes come true?"

I squirmed a bit beneath such scrutiny, reluctant to admit the truth. "No. What's the secret?"

"It's easy," she said. "All you have to do is believe in yourself."

My heart swelled at the sincerity in her tone.  Such wise advice coming from one so young. She knew the secret and I didn't. I thanked her for teaching me such a simple lesson that I wish I'd learned long ago.

21 comments:

  1. She is truly wise beyond her few years! Maybe there is hope for our species yet, if our young can hold on to their hopes and dreams. She is also very lucky to have a YaYa caring enough to listen to her words of wisdom!

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  2. What a beautiful and wise child. You are truly blessed, Maeve.

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  3. What a wonderful moment. The young have so much to teach us if we'd just listen. Thank you for sharing this! :)

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  4. Thank you, Michael. She fills me with hope. :-)

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  5. Thank you, Paisley. She's one of my greatest blessings and brightest rays of sunshine.

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  6. As I grow older, Rebecca, I'm learning to listen more closely to the little ones. They see the world from such a fresh, hope-filled perspective.

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  7. Out of the mouths of babes...
    She's precious! How did she come up with YaYa?
    So cute. I'm mom-mom.

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  8. What a beautiful and wise girl, some would say she is 'an old soul' who may have been here before! Thanks so much for sharing!!

    Andrea
    www.chicksofcharacterization.blogspot.com

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  9. What a delightful thing to think about, Andrea. I have to admit that I often wonder where she comes up with some of the things she says. (And so does her mother!) :-)

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  10. LOL! Gale, we had so very many grandma's, grammy's and mammaw's in our family, I somehow ended up as YaYa. Of course, I would've answered to ANYTHING she chose. :-)

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  11. Your granddaughter is very wise. As she grows older, remind her to never doubt herself regardless of what the world will tell her.

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  12. Absolutely precious, and yes, very wise. What a darling child.

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  13. I can see why you treasure that little one. :)

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  14. Hi Maeve,
    From the mouths of babes - such wisdom
    She looks like an angel
    Regards

    Margaret

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  15. What a wonderful story! It's funny because it almost makes you take a step back and realize how important the little things in life are. Great post!

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  16. I love this and what a wise comment for such a young child. Remarkable!

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  17. Just lovely, Maeve--the sentiment and the little granddaughter. The young have uncluttered minds so that what they know and what they believe is so simple. Yet simple truths are the best. We older ones have a long list of "buts" to add of which she knows nothing. Precious.
    We have 3 little grandsons. No girls. I love them dearly and they are precious, but...I did wish for a little girl. Wish I'd had that wishing stone. Celia

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  18. It makes me glad to know that youth still has that innocent belief in the magic in life. Would that as adults we all still had it...

    She is adorable, and you, are very, very, lucky!

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  19. Thank you all so very much. I count myself truly blessed to be gifted with such a wonderful granddaughter.

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  20. How can you be old enough to have a granddaugher? Anyway, it is very important to BELIEVE. Love your blogsite!

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  21. May she always remember the words she spoke on that day!

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