WHAT MY TEAPOT TAUGHT ME

This is a story about a teapot. It is not a teapot to boil water for a nice cup of hot tea; or a decorative; sit on the shelf teapot. It is a beautiful pink teapot, not a bright pink, or a fuchsia,  but more of a dusty rose. My teapot has a timeworn fashion look with little round openings below a flower design, that circles the neck of the pot. This unique teapot is electric, with a small bulb, that warms the little dish, holding a square-shaped piece of wax. As the wax melts, it fills the air with the most delicious scent that tantalizes you into thinking about sugar cookies.

Warmth…………

I light the teapot every night. The glow from the openings gives off a light that shines in many directions. It warms my heart to see the little tiny rays circling around the pot, bringing light where there was darkness.

I am not judging……..

Each day, as I read my newspaper, watch the news on the television and listen to the radio, I am reminded, how different people are today.  Although there are kind and loving people, there seems to be just as many, who appear to be lost. I am baffled at the hate some folks have in their hearts.

I  just do not understand……..

I struggle with the lack of respect and empathy towards anyone different.  It breaks my heart when children and adults are bullied to the point, where the individual debates suicide. Elder abuse is increasing. How sad for those older men and women made to endure pain and humiliation.  Tears flow from my eyes when I think of the cruelty towards animals, that happens each, and every day.  I  could go on and on with the sorrow that so many folks feel daily, but I think I will end, allowing you to ponder what tugs at your heart.

My teapot……..

When I close my eyes, I envision the teapot symbolizing each one of us. The light from inside, filters outside the little holes, lighting up an area surrounding the teapot. I believe the light represents our heart. The warmth of the lamp resembles love. A love we can share with all we meet daily. This love continues to cultivate our consciousness, which hopefully leads to knowing right from wrong. The light stays with us throughout our lives, enabling us to form friendships, fall in love, marry and have children,  work, play, grow old, and pass on with a sense, that we somehow made a difference. I am not saying that life is always easy, in fact, at times it can be downright tough! But if your light is intense, it will help to weather whatever comes your way.  Your light is like a beacon, always loving even, when you don’t feel like loving, always ready to help those you may or may not feel like helping but help anyway.  The warmth of love instills selflessness.  Sometimes, we may struggle with making choices, but love usually leads us to do what is right.

Those who are lost…….

Before I turn on the teapot, the holes are dark. The darkness represents those folks who have lost their way for many reasons: family, drugs, gangs, whatever, the circumstance.  Maybe at some point, the light radiated from them, and perhaps it did not. Maybe along the way, the hurt was too much to bear. And the darkness filled the space where the light shone.  The darkness becomes their beacon, and love struggles to get through.  Where light shines with hope, the darkness grows with discontent, hate, selfishness, and greed. Through the darkness, the lost folks see no light, even though it is always present. Some feel powerful in the darkness, some build walls, allowing very few people in. Most who are lost are lonely, and deep in my heart, a part of me believes they want to be loved.  When you see someone who is lost, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Hope……..

The definition of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a sure thing to happen.  I believe that everyone has the light in them, some more than others, some with just a hint, some still searching. I desire that those lost folks will find hope someday. That they will shine, like the illuminating light from my teapot.  Those that break the law hurt someone, or take a life need to face the consequences for the choices they have made, however, I will always pray that they will find the light that just might start a change. Those that are lost because of mental illness need our support, love, and encouragement to help find the light.

My heartfelt wishes…….

There will always be people who allow their light to shine, through loving, helping, encouraging, and caring for whomever they meet.  I hope that you will continue to shine, making a difference wherever you go. Maybe, if more and more people reach out to help others in need, smile a little more, and welcome those we do not know,  the light might just spread a bit farther.  We can only try and hope.