For When You Feel Like Quitting

Are you feeling under-appreciated?

Over-worked?

Feeling okay about your life, but tired of folks around you not getting along?

Are you feeling stripped to the core and like your vulnerability is visible to the world?

Have a I got a book for you to read!

It’s all about those feelings and stepping outside the box and saying how you feel–communicating what you need from those around you for you to feel better and more like yourself again.  To feel like you have value and are appreciated.

I just finished reading it yesterday.  Actually I started and finished it yesterday.  In about ten minutes total.  With my two littles.

Confused?

Sorry.  Back in December Amazon had these lightning specials where they put different things on big time sale, and some pretty incredible bargains could be had.  One night I saw that this book I had been interested in was going to be given away (well practically) at 9:00 a.m. the next morning.  They only have a certain number of these special bargains and once they are gone, they’re gone.  I had a talk with Santa, who picked me up a copy of this book I’d been wishing for, and he brought it to me for Christmas.

And yes, we just got around to reading it yesterday.  “Star Wars and Playmobil Folks Save the World” has been more pressing.  You understand, I’m sure.  So yesterday, when we were easing ourselves back into school (no cancelling school for cold here–for A cold maybe, but not for THE cold), I pulled it out and we read it.  It might have taken us fifteen minutes to finish because Cooter wanted me to re-read the letter from the Peach crayon, who has had all of its paper peeled off.  Peach was feeling quite vulnerable and had reached the point where it didn’t care who knew it.

Yes, that’s right.  A letter from the Peach crayon.  Each crayon in Duncan’s box has QUIT.  Each one has written a letter sharing its gripes, complaints, and general concerns.  Imagine being a Red crayon with a little person–all those “red holidays” not to mention big fire trucks.  Purple is tired of never staying in the lines.  And poor Pink in Duncan’s crayon box–you can see it coming, can’t you?  Yep.  Feeling rather unappreciated.

Yes, this is marketed as a children’s book, but quite honestly, it would be a close call to decide who loved this book the most.  I read it aloud to my two youngest, and we all giggled at different parts.  Later I found our Princess curled up reading it to herself.  When her big sister came in, she read Peach’s letter aloud, and Cooter laughed as hard as he did the first time he heard it.  It was delightful.  To hear the story…..and the laughter.

This will be one of our family favorites for a long time.  I just thought y’all should know that.  In the midst of my worrying about people suffering in the cold, sick wee ones, hurting hearts, and my girl heading back to college, it was really nice to read a story that hit home with me. (I dare you to read it and tell me not one of those crayons was speaking for you or to you.)  And it was even better to laugh with my children and spend time sharing the joy of a good book.  My Mama, Queen of the children’s books, would have loved this story.  And for a few minutes, as we were piled up in the recliner together, heads touching as we giggled at page after page, it was as though she were right there with us.  And that was the best feeling of all.