“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real.”
“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.
“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt.”
“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”
“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” (excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams)
In 2012, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. As my hair started to fall out, I thought of the Velveteen Rabbit and the Skin Horse. It was encouraging, because I was becoming "real"! I'm not quite to the place where I don't mind being hurt. But, during that season I felt the love of so many around me, and it gave me courage to continue on! I spent a lot of time thinking about those who never become real, because they break easily, have sharp edges, or have to be carefully kept. I have fallen into each of those categories over the years, yet the words of the Skin Horse echo through my spirit. Jesus is my personal skinned horse and He is constantly drawing me closer to real. He is the voice of wisdom, my counselor, my friend, and my coach! He has encouraged me to find coaches along the way and they have helped me to make hard decisions, good decisions, scary decisions! I am grateful for the coaches that helped me to become a better version of real; I am more real today than I was yesterday!
On my road to real, I have felt the honor of being called to coach others on their road to real. It is my quest, my passion, and my honor to coach others on their road to finding their destiny! If you are looking for a coach on your journey, email me at deborahdawn@roadtoreal.com.
On the road to real,
Deborah Dawn Martin
Some of my hair has been loved off, not most, so I am eager to lose more to love. Very inspiring Dawn.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement! Praying for you on your road to experiencing the love that transforms us from this kingdom to the real Kingdom!
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