Arlene
09-07-2006, 07:12 PM
I do not remember its’ origin – I only remember it was a magical door through which my nine year old mind's eye viewed the world. It was simply a five by five piece of royal blue velvet, but to me it was much more. Some days I was a beautiful princess with a trailing royal blue cloak walking majestically past my subjects. Another day, I invited neighboring royalty to dinner and my cloak became an elegant tablecloth lain sumptuously with extravagant and decadent foods. Other times it lay scurrying down the steps from our small cement stoop, as I descended my royal stairs. At times, it was a curtain hung over a chipped and aged metal railing and it muffled the deafening roar of cars past our small apartment. On those days, it resembled the lovely velvet curtains that lined the walls of my spectacular palace. Occasionally, I had an actual playmate and I would gently drape my beautiful blue velvet cloak over her shoulders. Sharing my beloved cloak was my ultimate act of love for my little playmate. She was thrilled by my grand royal gesture and I served her Majesty dainty delicacies. My much-loved royal blue velvet cloak was a continual source of comfort and love.
What amazes me is that I remember playing with this piece of material for days upon end. It was one of my few playthings and it became the focus of many musings. I look at the surplus of toys my grandchildren possess and marvel at their lack of imagination. There is no wonderful blue velvet utopia in their lives – only TVs blaring, Game Boys humming, and computers computing.
I know my hard working little mother had to wash it often, as it was my constant companion…my caring friend in the dark, my warm comfort when lonely, and my treasured ticket to a safe haven. I devoted my days to a far-off world of splendor, love, honor, and extravagance, as only the mind of a nine year old can. I imagined being swept away by my prince charming while draped with my lovely royal blue cloak.
When I think of the love I had for that piece of material and the world it opened for me, I yearn today for that time and that memory and, yes, even that piece of material. The recollection of that royal blue cloak of love can still evoke tender loving memories.
I am no longer nine and instead of fantasies, I have learned to accept life’s realities and its ensuing joys and sorrows. However, many days I contemplate that royal blue piece of heaven. You see, I have become a princess, because I am a child of the King. I will one day sit at a royal table laden with sumptuous foods and the tablecloth may resemble my royal blue velvet. I think I see a royal carpet that extends onto the Golden Streets and I will be walking there soon. And when I get there, I will never again hear the voices of confusion that blow in this world and sometimes in my mind. I will have achieved the true regal place of life – where love, honor, and integrity abound. I will look for the ones who blessed me by ministering God’s love and peace. I will be enveloped by a cozy, royal cloak of love.
I pray I can be that little piece of constant love in someone’s world. May I give the comfort of a velvet cloak upon their shoulders. May my love for them lie as a mantle of warmth and love against the tide of life. If I have enemies, may I lay a lovely velvet tablecloth for them and cover it with enticing foods and drink to give them sustenance. May my life be a reassuring light to lead them to the stairway of heaven and to the King. May I impart to them the constant hope and eternal love of a God that will bring pride and honor into their life. May God’s love flow through me to bring purpose to lives torn by ravages of sin and discarded upon the sidelines of life.
My world is no longer full of the fancy imaginations of a child, but the knowledge that heaven is real and one day we will walk where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears, and no more parting. It has become my prayer that God’s mantle of love will blanket the earth and bring peace to hurting hearts.
I love you, Jesus. Today you are my velvet cloak of love lying softly upon my shoulders. You comfort me with your presence, encourage me with your strength, and keep me company with your Word. I have never known such love or peace. You are my Prince Charming and some day soon you will carry me away to be cloaked forever in your eternal love.
What amazes me is that I remember playing with this piece of material for days upon end. It was one of my few playthings and it became the focus of many musings. I look at the surplus of toys my grandchildren possess and marvel at their lack of imagination. There is no wonderful blue velvet utopia in their lives – only TVs blaring, Game Boys humming, and computers computing.
I know my hard working little mother had to wash it often, as it was my constant companion…my caring friend in the dark, my warm comfort when lonely, and my treasured ticket to a safe haven. I devoted my days to a far-off world of splendor, love, honor, and extravagance, as only the mind of a nine year old can. I imagined being swept away by my prince charming while draped with my lovely royal blue cloak.
When I think of the love I had for that piece of material and the world it opened for me, I yearn today for that time and that memory and, yes, even that piece of material. The recollection of that royal blue cloak of love can still evoke tender loving memories.
I am no longer nine and instead of fantasies, I have learned to accept life’s realities and its ensuing joys and sorrows. However, many days I contemplate that royal blue piece of heaven. You see, I have become a princess, because I am a child of the King. I will one day sit at a royal table laden with sumptuous foods and the tablecloth may resemble my royal blue velvet. I think I see a royal carpet that extends onto the Golden Streets and I will be walking there soon. And when I get there, I will never again hear the voices of confusion that blow in this world and sometimes in my mind. I will have achieved the true regal place of life – where love, honor, and integrity abound. I will look for the ones who blessed me by ministering God’s love and peace. I will be enveloped by a cozy, royal cloak of love.
I pray I can be that little piece of constant love in someone’s world. May I give the comfort of a velvet cloak upon their shoulders. May my love for them lie as a mantle of warmth and love against the tide of life. If I have enemies, may I lay a lovely velvet tablecloth for them and cover it with enticing foods and drink to give them sustenance. May my life be a reassuring light to lead them to the stairway of heaven and to the King. May I impart to them the constant hope and eternal love of a God that will bring pride and honor into their life. May God’s love flow through me to bring purpose to lives torn by ravages of sin and discarded upon the sidelines of life.
My world is no longer full of the fancy imaginations of a child, but the knowledge that heaven is real and one day we will walk where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears, and no more parting. It has become my prayer that God’s mantle of love will blanket the earth and bring peace to hurting hearts.
I love you, Jesus. Today you are my velvet cloak of love lying softly upon my shoulders. You comfort me with your presence, encourage me with your strength, and keep me company with your Word. I have never known such love or peace. You are my Prince Charming and some day soon you will carry me away to be cloaked forever in your eternal love.