Becoming Real: 40 Days with the Velveteen Rabbit

 Day 2 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday – 18th February 2010 

To Read:

There were other things in the stocking,  
nuts and oranges and a toy engine,
and chocolate almonds
and a clockwork mouse,
but the Rabbit was quite the best of all. 
For at least two hours the Boy loved him,

and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten.

from The Velveteen Rabbit
by Margery Williams

To Reflect:

Oh well at least the rabbit was loved for two hours! Then even ‘the best of all’ presents gets laid aside by the busy-ness of life and the rush of all the things that have to be done.

Have you ever felt that you have not been loved enough? Wished that someone would give you just a little more attention and appreciation? Wondered what it is you would have to do to get some appreciation for all the good things that you do? It is so easy in this busy world to end up forgotten like the toy rabbit.

What joy to realise that in the economy of God’s love we can never be forgotten, even if (perhaps especially when) we have forgotten to love God.

To Pray:

Father,
through our observance of Lent,
help us to understand the meaning of Your Son’s death and resurrection,
and teach us to reflect it in our lives.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

© Andrew Dotchin – 2018