“That afternoon the whole world seemed to devote itself to being perfect and radiantly beautiful and kind to one boy.” Frances Hodgson Burnett

Note: shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel

At P.S. 68 elementary in the Bronx, New York the bookmobile came to our school on Wednesday afternoons. Oh the delight in getting to peruse the selection of books, as I searched for just the right one and then my eyes lit upon, “The Secret Garden.” Intrigued by a hint of mystery I chose it or rather it chose me. I entered into another world from the moment I touched her first page and therein lies the magic of stories.

The concept of “Metanoia” that signifies a change of heart emerged as a powerful theme. This story reveals the pain of broken heartedness, of friendship, redemption, the healing power of Love and transformation. Once read, it became a favorite childhood companion of mine.

I wish to share with you the excerpt below from Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1909 enchanting tale, The Secret Garden.

“One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever.

 One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands out and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun–which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years.

One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries.

Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with the millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes.” 

Above photo image by ~liz