craigdailypress.com

Christina M. Currie

Christina M. Currie's Touch of Spice column appears Fridays in the Craig Daily Press. E-mail her at director@craig-chamber.com

Craig — I was pretty excited when the movie "The Velveteen Rabbit" arrived.

I had vague recollections of happiness associated with that book, but when the girls asked what the movie was about, I couldn't come up with one specific scene to relate.

So, it became a family movie instead of just something for the girls.

I have to admit, I didn't recognize most of the story, but I did realize why just the thought of the book gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

There was a single line that hit me. From a high, young voice of a stuffed rabbit that came to life because one lonely boy needed a friend came the words, "Nothing is real until someone imagines it!"

There was more, but I don't remember the exact wording, but it all centered on one theme: If you believe you can, you can.

It's funny, because my 8-year-old daughter Katie and I have this conversation a lot.

I want her to understand the power of positive thought and of affirming your potential and that all things are possible.

But the fact that I've always told her that she's capable of anything is the one message that's breaking her heart.

You see, she believed me.

And she also trusted me when I told her that wishes came true, that there was magic power in holding your breath all the way through a tunnel, in falling stars and birthday candles.

And the fact her world isn't changing because she believes it should, when she wishes it so with all her might, means that maybe mom's not right at all.

Katie doesn't want much, but what she does want, she wants so badly that her voice cracks and tears surface in her big brown eyes when she realizes that all her wishing didn't make a difference.

Her biggest request? To hear an angel speak.

We have long conversations about angels. How they look, how they talk, what their roles are in our lives.

I believe that you can have a very personal relationship with the angels in your life, and because I believe it, Katie does too.

But she's 8, and I don't know how to explain that there are some things that do occur because you believe that they will.

And there are some things that don't.

To be honest, I don't want to explain that. I'm not even sure I believe it.

I don't know how to say "you can be anything you want to be, but :"

I just want to say, "You can be anything you want to be." Period.

But how do I back that up? How do I explain to a child who's in tears because she's spent every waking minute wishing she had wings like a fairy that, "No, I meant you can be anything you want to be if it's real, like a doctor or a scientist. I mean, when I said that, I just meant for a job or something, not imaginary things or things that you only dream about. I meant that you could be good at gymnastics or have lots of friends. You know."

But I don't believe that either.

There's an element of faith. Like a belief in God.

What I want her to know is that belief sustains you, gives you hope and makes things possible that you only imagined.

What I will tell her is this: "I believe in you."