If “Science” Says It’s Proved, Then It Must Be …

Photo by popofatticus “evening read”

If “Science” says it’s proved, then it must be … what about a science of the heart ?! When, after a long day, and their baths were done and they both smelled delicious after having put the life stock away, I’d call out, “Stories in the big bed!” they’d both come running with books in tow.

I’d light a beeswax candle to mark the sacredness of this time, take a big breath, lie down and wait for them to cuddle in, their heads on my chest. They loved “The Paper Bag Princess,” or “Tyrone the Terrible,” or “I’ll Love You Forever,” or “Mary Louise Loses Her Manners.”

Later on we went through the gruesome tales of Grimm’s tome … several times … given that they were also reading them at their Waldorf School. They’d have great discussions about the moral elements in these stories, cutting their ethical teeth. I loved to listen to them as the candle burned on.

This gesture of taking the time to connect to themselves, and to literature, now also taking time from their busy day, now, as adults. The reading was a portal into intimacy, sacredness and grace on our farm where chores, serving patients, and post graduate studies often burned several candles at all ends.

Reading to each other was never forgone in the rhythm of our day, harnessing the love of art, beauty and truth into the astral realm of our sleep. Remembering why and how much we were, and are, loved and cared for was more for our hearts than the silly wires of our brains. Seriously!

2 thoughts on “If “Science” Says It’s Proved, Then It Must Be …

  1. June Griffith

    I enjoyed and loved reading to my kids when they were young. I would read them many stories at bedtime as I did the same to our 2 grandkids who are grown older now. If it wasn’t for my teacher one year in elementary grade school placing me in a special reading group I would not have fallen in love with reading as at the time I was having difficulty with it. I read almost everything .I love reading biographies and love literature. These memories came back to me after reading your article. Thanks for the good memories.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *