Little Bear and the Mirror

This priceless story comes with a link to a free audio download, done by Lydia du Toit, plus her lovely song, Mirror Mirror on the Wall... most beautifully sung by Godfrey Birtill!

A little bear, suffering from terrible fear, finds a caring friend in a squirrel - the squirrel then asks wise Miss Owl for advice.

She pages through her library of books and scrolls and until she finds that,

"There is only one reason for gibbering, shivering, jiggling and joggling fearful

cold," she read in her big, fat book of Wisdom Whoppers. "This cold is not outside

but inside and is a big, big problem if not cured! It will make your eyes see funny

things and your ears hear funny noises and your tummy turn in funny

circles - a dreadful condition indeed!"

Mrs. Owl wondered to herself, "If the cold is inside and not outside, how can I get

what is in, out?"

"I've got the answer!" shouted Owl with great joy. "The cold must get out the

same way it got in!"

"The thoughts in our heads become the words in our mouths and then change

into the doors that keep in and keep out!!"

"You see, Squirrel, our thoughts are very powerful. The thoughts in our heads are the secret place where all the wonders of the earth are stored, churned, milled, ground and made. But there, we can also hold dark, scary thoughts and lies. Those thoughts turn into words, either good ones or bad ones! We need to know the secret of how to lock in the good thoughts and let them get rid of the bad ones - just like light gets rid of darkness, effortlessly!

Light is stronger than darkness. God's Mirror is His thoughts about us; that's the key!

"It's a magic Mirror," replied Squirrel excitedly. "It lets you see the truth that unlocks the door to let the gibbering, shivering, jabbering, jiggling cold out. Wise owl said that, the cold could only get out the way it got in!"

So Little Bear, take this Mirror. Look deeply into it."

Squirrel waited with eager curiosity, "Tell me, what do you see?"

Little Bear took the Mirror and gazed deeply. The more he looked, the wider his grin spread along his big bear mouth.

"I see me," said Little Bear.

Lydia and her husband, Francois du Toit live in South Africa. "I think my imagination for story telling started in my early childhood. We lived like gypsies in a caravan and traveled criss cross our beautiful country wherever my Pappa's work would take him. Long before any TV, and often so remote, that even the radio didn't work, we invented stories and imagined places, yet to be discovered. At night around the campfires, or in bed, we were entertained with my Mamma's amazing stories, taking us with her to Neverland. CS Lewis, as well as Elizabeth Goudge were some of my favorite authors. Raising our 4 children, I remember Francois often listening in and urging me to write these unfolding stories down one day! There is wonderful, hidden world, waiting to be explored in every child's mind. I trust that Little Bear and The Mirror will unlock a most beautiful, safe place for all who read it." www.mirrorword.net

Karlee Lillywhite is passionate about visual storytelling that inspires wonder. "I am a freelance illustrator living in Ithaca, NY with my grad student husband and our cat, Billie. I love to create illustrations inspired by literature and history, especially when the stories involve strong women. I also tell visual stories through the custom wedding invitations and logo designs that I create with clients. I first fell in love with making beautiful images when I was 13 years old and a serious injury kept me bedridden for long periods of time. Ever since then, the gift of creating art has been a source of healing and joy in my life. I enjoy many mediums and styles but am most drawn to pen and watercolor work. I love how spontaneous and playful watercolor can be but also appreciate the structure and clarity of the pen lines. I often incorporate gold leaf into my work.​ Hiraeth (pronounced HEER-eyeth) is a Welsh word with no direct English equivalent. It refers to the deep longing of the soul for a past that it never experienced but feels connected to. It is a homesickness for a world that no longer exists, and perhaps never did. This concept represents so well why I am compelled to make art and why I think everyone needs art. I believe the experience of longing is an essential component of being human.