Bedtime stories

Tonight we cuddled up on my bed.  My girls were very sleepy and not in the mood for a bedtime story.  I wasn't giving up...

I opened this book and told the girls how my mom used to read these stories to me when I was a child.  My goal was to try and engage them into anticipation for the story that we were about to read.  They still weren't moved.  

Last week I received a call from a friend, who told me that she was clearing out some old books and wanted to know if I'd like to take a look at them before she gave them away. (Side note...  I LOVE old books.  Let me restate that.  I LOVE classic books.  Books that have meaning and leave a lasting impression upon the soul.  Books that leave the reader inspired to do better).  Needless to say, I rushed over and gave her books a new home.  Some of the books she gave to me date back to 1940.  These bedtime story books were printed in 1950.  

Why does any of this matter?  After I opened the cover and began to read the first story, "Wilfred's Secret," my girls were suddenly cured from their exhaustion.  They listened intently to what I was reading.  I would love to say their sudden interest in the story was due to my fine story telling skills, but that would be untrue.  It was the story.  The premis of the story is about Wilfred and his sister performing acts of kindness for people anonomously.  They call themselves the "Surprise Package Company."  What a novel idea... doing acts of service to others secretly and feeling the joy that comes from helping others. This is good stuff.

The author states in the preface to the book that these stories were "designed not only to entertain but to build character, to lead boys and girls to choose the good way of life, by teaching them to be kind, obedient, honest and truthful."  

These principles are not new, they have been around for centuries, however they are becoming harder and harder to

find in society today.  There is something gratifying about a good story with a moral foundation that fills the soul.  I believe we yearn for it.  We just have to search for it and listen.  I'm glad I didn't give up because my kids did listen.  They loved it and are looking forward with anticipation to tomorrow night. These are the moments I treasure with my kids.