Bedtime Stories

As I put Roo to bed tonight, I decided to tell him a story. It's cheesy and needs a LOT of work, but I wanted to share it with you. And Roo liked it. ;-) I hope you've all had a great weekend, and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Once upon a time there was a handsome prince. He was loved and adored by his family and everyone in the kingdom.

One day the king and queen decided to take their prince for a walk. At the foot of the path, they met a man in a strange cloak, who stopped them and asked to see the prince. "May I give him a blessing?" asked the stranger as he held the infant. The king and queen nodded. "The walk you take today is no ordinary stroll. You are about to embark on a journey that will change your lives forever. At the end of your journey, this prince will be unlike any this kingdom has ever seen. He will be sweet and kind. He will be strong and courageous. He will touch the lives of many and bring joy to all he meets."

The queen smiled. "Thank you, kind sir."

"But that is not all," the man continued. "This greatness comes at a cost. Your prince will face many foes—they will attack his mind, so that it is harder for him to learn. They will attack his legs, so that it is harder for him to walk. They will attack his body, so that it is harder for him to fight back. They will even attack his spirit, hoping that their vicious words will keep him from achieving his great destiny. It will be more than he can handle on his own."

The king snatched his child from the arms of the stranger. "Thank you," he said curtly, "but we cannot accept your 'blessing.'"

"Ah, but you have no choice," the man replied. "Without this journey, your prince cannot be the man he was created to be. Without the hardship, there is no joy. Without the battles, there is no victory."

The king and queen stared at the path before them. They were so unprepared. They had only planned on a short walk, a pleasant stroll through the country. How could they handle this journey laid out before them? But how could they turn around now and not let their son become this great man the stranger had spoken of?

"Do not be afraid," the stranger encouraged them. "I am equipping not only the prince, but each of you as well. Together you will face his enemies—your enemies. Together you will enjoy the victories. And I have placed help for you along the way, for the battles that you cannot face by yourselves. The road will be rough at times, but not impossible. And in the end, it will all be worth it."

With that, the stranger disappeared, leaving the king and queen overwhelmed and wondering what to do next. They looked at their sweet son. Tears streamed down their faces as they thought of the battles that were ahead, but they knew what they had to do. Holding tightly to each other, they looked down the path… and took a step.