Thursday, December 6, 2012

Wednesday Wish (61); Cottage Magic


Cottage in the Woods
photo by hornejm's photostream via flickr
The cottage sat nestled in the thick of the woods, her walls part forest, her rooms an open heart. Not everyone knew what a special place she was, not everyone had ears to sense her subtle love. But the meadowlarks and the cedars, they did. And the dancing creek, it did, too. So they loved that little cottage as one of their own, dusting her open heart with happy every day of the week.

Then one day, a couple came. They lived nearby and had heard about the cottage, and because they knew love, they too, could hear. The wife touched her hands to her mouth, her eyes sparkling when she saw it, and the husband, he put his love-filled hand on his dear wife’s shoulder, his smile lighting up the crisp autumn air.

“She needs us. I can tell.”
The wife nodded. “But how? What is she meant for?”
“She will tell us. When it’s time, we will know.”
The wife nodded a second time, her husband’s smile also her own.

Now the husband, he worked with the homeless and the wife, she used to be a nun. The two were a particularly caring sort, their hearts happiest when they were giving and loving. And not just sharing those gifts with one another, but with everyone around them.

So it didn’t surprise either one of them when they dreamt the same dream, of fixing up the cottage for weekly vacations for the homeless.

“Yes,” said the husband, it’s what she is meant to be.
“Indeed,” said the wife, "our hearts tell us so."

So they got to work, not knowing where the money would come from, but spending it just the same, for they knew they had to listen to their hearts, that their hearts would never steer them wrong. They hammered and nailed, they sanded and polished, they painted and sewed and before they knew it, the day had arrived. Their first guest was due to arrive in just an hour.

“Darling?” called the husband to his wife. “Can you lend me a hand when you are finished there? I can’t seem to figure out this bubble in the floor.”

“I’ll be right there,” she called from the kitchen, the cupboards still needing some care.

But when she came around the corner, she saw a most curious sight.

“It was buried under the floor boards,” he said to his wife.
The two stared with wide-eyed wonder.
“It’s from her, this precious cottage, to thank us for giving her part of her life’s work.”
“To thank us for listening to her heart, as well our own.”

And when they counted it, they found that it matched the money they had spent on the cottage, within cents. Everything wasn’t just alright in the world. Everything was beautiful. 

And they believed with greater conviction, in the magic of the heart.


*         *          *

How will you honor your heart this week? With the holiday rush will you take time for yourSelf to just breathe and Be, to listen to the gentle lurings of your heart? For when we do, our heart’s magic doesn’t just affect us, it affects all those around us…. I promise. Mrs. Urness told me so:)

**in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Urness of Bainbridge Island

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Giving is of true love. Love always desires to extend the essence in joy and happiness. When we give unconditionally we all flourish from the positive energy. May good seeds be sown this holiday season. Magical story, thank you.

Brynne said...

Magical words from a kind and beautifully open heart. Your positive energy is right here...and gives my heart a happy smile. Thank you, dear soul.

Michael J. Fitzgerald said...

I once worked at a newspaper (for five months, the longest five years of my life) where when I walked in early each morning, I could feel 'evil' in the building. Palpable evil. Makes me shudder now to think of it. But reading this piece, even from thousands of miles away, I feel the goodness of the cottage, a radiance almost. Magical, of course. I will look harder today for some magic in my heart, or discover it in a place perhaps. Outside children are starting to play on the beach. Magic there for sure.

Chronicles of Illusions said...

Your stories always seem to reach me when i need them most dear Brynne

Chronicles of Illusions said...

An award for you...I think you take them all personally...but you choose:
http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/tis-the-season/

Brynne said...

Aww, Jo...I am soo glad to know that, my dear friend. Soo much love to you.

Brynne said...

Your senses are keen, my friend. I know that's part of the reason why Sofia and then I, were drawn to you. Your heart...it leads your way:) If we could all listen as intently as you do...ahhh, yes..that would feel very nice indeed.

Brynne said...

Thank you, Jo. Dearly. I am humbled. A new smile has found me, for sure:)

RoughWaterJohn said...

The universe always conspires to give us our desires, it never fails to listen to our hearts, its passion mirrors ours. Wants are seldom things, though that is rarely understood. Wants are outcomes, results, paths and doors. They lead to many things, but are not themselves the things we think we seek. I am truly grateful for all the outcomes, results, paths and doors I have been given, of which, you are one of my favorites. :-)

Brynne said...

Happy New Year, my beautiful friend, and thank you 2012 for lighting my year with the heart of my dear roughwaterJohn.