THE WRAPPING
Once upon a time, in a land maybe not so far away, there lived a big family. The father of this family was a loving and wise man, some say he was the wisest in the land and the love he had for his children was surpassed by no one. It is said that the father in his wisdom knew what was in store for his children in the years to come. So he would sit and think about how he would be able to help them.
One day he began to write down his thoughts, warnings and wisdom for his children; plans and promises that he had made.
There was the mark of love in all that he wrote.
Much later, after many days had passed, he finished writing all that he wished to say. He had many pages, so he gathered them together and bound them into a book. He placed the finished book on the table and then called all his children to him.
When they were all in the room he showed them the finished book. He told them it was for them, a book written especially for his children.
He said, "This book is very important for this family, for you children. I have written it that you could read for yourselves what I have said; it will be here for all to read."
The children said thanks, but it was more a polite response than true gratitude. A couple of the older children went over to the table and opened the book. They read a few lines on a few pages, but quickly turned to their father and said, "But Dad, we've heard all this before." And slowly the room emptied as the children all left to go back to what they had been doing.
The book sat unopened for weeks gathering dust on the table. The father was very sad. One winter day as he was warming himself by the fire, he thought about the book and how none of the children were interested in it. He was feeling so disappointed that he grabbed the book off the table and said to himself, "If this book doesn't serve one purpose, maybe at least it can bring some warmth to this house." And he threw the book into the fire.
As the flames danced around the book, the colours swirling about its binding, the wise father had an idea. He quickly salvaged the book from the fire. After seeing that only the edges were charred and that the inside wasn't damaged, he set off with the book in hand.
Many miles away he came to the place he was seeking; a store specializing in decorations and adornments. The father went in and when the storekeeper saw him he asked, "May I help you?" The father said, "I'm looking for something to wrap this book in. I want it to be something lively and nice." The storekeeper showed him many fancy things, but none of them were really what the father had in mind.
Feeling discouraged, the father began to leave the store when in the corner, half hidden behind some boxes, was something that caught his eye. "It is beautiful!" he thought as he pulled it out. It had swirling lines and colours, oh so many beautiful colours that blended together in a harmony of expression. It seemed to breathe with a life of its own.
"What is this?" he asked the storekeeper. "I'm not really sure; it has been here as long as I can remember," the storekeeper replied. He continued, "I don't even know where it came from. In fact, I've never noticed how beautiful it really is until you held it up just now."
"How much do you want for it?" the father asked. "I don't know; does it say anything on the box it was in?" "No," replied the father, "it only has a single word, rather faded. I can only make out the first three letters ...M...U...S..." The old storekeeper saw that the father was excited, so he said, "It is yours for free; a gift to you."
So the wise and loving father wrapped the book in this beautiful wrapping and headed home.
In the morning the children saw the beautiful package on the table and were all very excited. The wrapping was glowing, it seemed vibrant with life. The father said, "Go ahead, open it up and see what it holds." So the children opened the wrapping to find their father's book on the inside. The charred book seemed so special coming from such a beautiful package.
They opened the book as it laid in the wrapping; they turned the pages reading aloud. And as they read, the wrapping seemed to follow the words from the page to the air.
Now not only was the book surrounded by the wrapping, the spoken words were entwined in that colourful wrapping as they moved through the air. As more was read from the book, and the words were resounding throughout the room, the more the colour and line swelled and danced about.
The room filled with joy and warmth, with excitement and harmony.
And that day, in that room, the children heard the wonderful words of their father as they had never heard before. For the room was filled with music, and their hearts were filled with love.
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