April 14, 2020 – Observations and Thoughts…

“Sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent.”

– the horse, from The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Due to all the hype, I have had The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse on my reading list since it was released last fall. I finally read it this morning and I’m glad I did. This book in a lot of ways reminds me of Who Moved My Cheese (by Spencer Johnson), with its encouragement to keep going in spite of the unknown or our fears. Yet, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse is an even quicker read than Who Moved My Cheese and is even more simplistic, being easily read and understood by adults and children alike.

The sentiments and encouragement contained in The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse could not be more applicable than if the author wrote this parable today–during COVID-19. The story chronicles four friends on a journey home. The older, wiser characters comfort and teach the boy along the way; ultimately resulting in the boy feeling braver, more loved, and able to handle whatever adversity comes his way.

My favorite quote from the book is spoken by the horse. He encourages the boy with his wisdom;

“Sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent.”

How simple and yet how complex.

As the end of the school year approaches, I realize I’m mourning the loss of the last few weeks our family will spend in grade school. A chapter of our life is closing and neither our youngest daughter nor my husband nor I will be able participate: no last field day, no last day of school, no continuation, no saying goodbye to the teachers, staff and friends we’ve made the 11 years we’ve been at our neighborhood elementary school. It’s sad and I am realizing I feel a strong sense of loss.

To make things worse, I feel guilty about my sadness knowing others are dealing with more difficult things like loss of health, employment or a loved one. I can often do this to myself, berating my feelings as not justified or valid because others suffer more greatly. But, a few additional words of wisdom shared by the mole in The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse encourage me this morning:

“Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest kindnesses.”

“Often the hardest person to forgive is yourself.”

Right. It is okay for me to be easier on and forgive myself. To drive that point home, the final realization by the boy strikes me like a ton of books:

“‘What’s your best discovery?’ asked the mole.

‘That I’m enough as I am,’ said the boy.”

A reminder for me as a sinner; through Christ, I am enough. My prayer during this tumultuous time is that I remember to give grace to others and myself, knowing that we are enough.

#hopeinsuffering #hometogether #thisiscoronalife