Hope + (((Baby)))GA
Very Active Member
The Winter Tree: with Kate, Jade and Rascal (GA)
- You really like spending time under that tree at night, don’t you, Kate?
- I do, Jade. It’s my quiet time to reflect on things and each year brings more memories to consider. You’re welcome to join me…come on under.
- No thanks – I’ll sit out here. Hey Kate…they aren’t going to make me leave, are they?
- What??? Make you leave??? You mean The Beans? Of course they aren’t, Jade, this is truly a forever home, didn’t Rasky promise you that? Why would you ever think that?
- Because they brought this tree inside. I had to live under trees outside when I was on my own. I thought maybe they wanted me to get used to being out there again…
- Oh Jade – NO! Not to worry, little boy – they do this every winter for awhile and it only means GOOD things, not bad! Really.
- I don’t remember it last winter – I didn’t see a tree in the house then.
- You didn’t see it because you were so sick, remember? You spent that entire time in your own room upstairs being nursed by the Beans, taking those meds, getting healthy again – and we weren’t exactly friends yet, so I didn’t mention the Tree to you. But it was here, honest. No WONDER you’ve been so quiet since they put the Tree up. You haven’t even knocked a single hanging thing off – that’s so unlike you!
- I’ve been afraid, Kate. It reminds me of cold nights spent out alone, always wondering when I’d eat or IF I’d eat, and hoping a mean tiger or worse wouldn’t scare me away when I tried to sleep. Even finding a safe tree to be under wasn’t easy and hardly ever warm enough. But it was all I had. Those days were hard. I thought if I dared to touch even a single one of those things the Beans
put on this tree, they’d make me leave for sure. No WAY I can take that chance!
- You’ve got it all wrong, Jade. This Tree is about many things, but none of them are built around fear. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Come here – trust me. You need to see the other side of things. C’mon, I promise you you’ll feel so much better. And maybe you’ll understand why I spend so much time here. I’ve never lied to you or given you reason to mistrust me, have I? That’s it…slow is fine… come on under…watch your head under that branch, now…ok, good. Now lay on your back like me and grab something to hang on to with each paw…
- Umm, Kate…I trust you but can’t I just lay here like this? Laying on my back is asking a lot just yet.
- Sure, Jade, that’s fine. You may get a little neck strain, that’s all. Isn’t this different from the trees outside, though? It’s cozy and warm, and padded so nicely underneath?
- Yeah, it’s not so bad. I like that it’s nice and bright…
- Lights are wondrous things, Jade. The Beans put LOTS of them in here. And see these hanging things near us?…they’re all really soft and fun to bat around. The Beans do that especially for us – a sign of how much they care about me AND you! They always cover that big bowl the tree stands in – you’ve heard the lecture about why you can’t drink that water – I know it now by heart. Oh – don’t climb the tree no matter what – that’s a Bean rule they don’t take lightly. Anyway, it’s safe here. Are you comfortable?
- I think I am. This is a lot nicer than I imagined!
- It gets better, Jade. Now that you’re comfy it’s time to really look around and put things in perspective. Look up…
- WOW! It’s so…beautiful!
- It is, isn’t it? This tree grew it’s branches in a way that lets them protect one another and yet still be strong and individual. That’s her inner beauty showing. Then the Beans dress her up by hanging their special things on every branch; each one is so lovely and has it’s own meaning for them.
- They took a long time putting them on. I watched the little Beans smiling when they added theirs – and singing!
- Yes, Jade. What you watched was a lot of Love going into all this. That’s part of why I enjoy it here. I only feel the ‘good’ in here, the reasons to go on, grateful for what this life has given us – and thankful for what we are allowed to give in return.
I understand how you feel about your beginnings, Jade, and those tough times. But try this – it’s something Rascal taught me when I was your age – close your eyes…put your head WAY back so your face is looking straight up…ready? Now slowly open your eyes but not all the way…just squint…now look up…
- Oh Gee! It’s kind of magical…the lights…so colorful…
- Yep. Those dark branches are like the dark times we all have to go through at times. But each light you see is a special thing The Great Cat gives us to find our way past those shadowy days. A light can be a friend, or a Bean, or an unexpected Angel.
- Like Ginger.
- Ginger? A friend of yours?
- We were never friends, not even close. I don’t know where she came from or where she lived. But she managed to come from nowhere whenever I was in trouble. She chased the mean ones away and sometimes showed me dry places to sleep…she even left me food sometimes when I was hungry. See that soft orange light over there? It makes me think of Ginger. I never got to know her well at all, but when I needed her most – she was there.
And those twinkling lights are sort of like our Beans, aren’t they, Kate?
Bright and cheerful on and off, but always warm and gentle underneath.
- And loving, Jade – don’t ever doubt that. They may make mistakes from time to time, but our job is to be patient with them and help them on the right path. They learn because they love us, and they care. We are all lights for one another in this world, kid…don’t ever lose sight of that. And trust that this IS your home; your heart will always be safe here. You’ll learn to trust and once you do, it’s a wonderful life.
- This is so peaceful, Kate. I see now why you love being in here. The lights bouncing off those shiny things , like dancing stars…and all those little horses and bean toys hanging everywhere you look…it does make me purr. Hey!! …listen to that crystal bell ringing at the top…
- LOL – yes, and look who’s up there ringing it! Hi, Rascal!
- Merry Christmas, Kate, and Happy Solstice to you, Jade! I’ve been listening to Kate teaching you about our Tree of Life, Jade – and I think you have a fine teacher there. And let me reassure you – this is Home, Jade. Your home. Your heart will grow for years to come with all that you share here, and it will stay in all of your hearts – forever. But enough of this contemplation for now – let’s go put the ‘Merry’ in Christmas – let’s go BOWL!!
- …bowl ????
- Oh, you’re gonna LOVE this, Jade!…talk about wonderful….follow us!
(--psst…hey Ginger…whatcha looking at in that window?
- Just checking up on an old acquaintance, Tommy. Now let’s go find you a nice bed for the night, and in good time, a nice home. )
written by Pat et al (Rascal(GA), Kate and Jade)