Frightful Fairy Tales Block Out Faith

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This beautiful rare old illustration is from an illustrated fairy tale book published back in the 1800s.  I don't know the title of the fairy tale. However, I thought it captured the essence of fairy tales from the past in general.

This innocent young child sleeps peacefully as vague shadowy danger lurks close-by.  Her room is decorated with all things good and nice, yet any child after having this tale read to them will go to bed frightened by the unknown, frightened by shadows, afraid to sleep too soundly even if their room is ideal, safe, and cozy.

I recall reading all the fairy tale classics in a red Collier's Encyclopedia children's edition collection my father bought when I was just starting first grade. 

At first I would lay in bed and just look at the fascinating illustrations and create my own stories.  After I learned to read, of course, the illustrations took on a whole new meaning and it was always, without exception, frightening. 

How many children (as I did) looked into the bedroom at night and tried to jump on the bed from about three feet away so the monster under the bed could not grab our feet and pull us into the dark unknown under the bed.  I could jump from five feet away. 

My parents only laughed when I said a monster was under my bed and thought it was cute the way I'd jump from a distance into bed.  But they did not believe it was necessary to rid me of the fear itself by looking under my bed.

Without those frightening (yet encouraged to read by parents) fairy tales, I may never have experienced fear.  Was that the idea -- teach little children fear.

Help Bring Larry's Health Back

This is an artistic sketch of our status right now.  I am holding Larry who is resting in the center of a healing flower.  Our Barn Finds Journal is revving up and the weather is getting warmer.


One more doctor trip to isolate Larry's problem and maybe he'll get proper diagnostic care; we' been going through this baloney for a year and no one is really intent on locating Larry's source of illness;


I only have you, our readers, to talk to about this. This day and age I believe sincerely private prayer for someone works better than a trip to a Dr. we see for 10 minutes and get a dozen new prescriptions to treat the symptoms.

The request for prayer from whoever reads this is what the piece of art is about.  Larry is the center of your prayer and need so much energy and support; can barely move around, diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease by a country doctor.  Will have specialist opinion in April 2010.  I say let all just heal him and be done with it.  We need to get back to driving the back roads locating old cars and trucks. == Thank you for helping.