It's not that I've made a point of collecting boxes but in one way or another they have become a collection because I've kept them. I guess I like boxes! The oldest box in the collage is a jewelry box that opens on top and has a drawer in the bottom. The grandgirls enjoy poking through it, especially since it's in the room they sleep in. Some of the boxes have significant meaning attached to them. The hand carved box is from Indonesia, the delicately crafted marble box with beautiful stone insets is from India and the smooth wooden lacquered box is from Russia. Others are simple inexpensive decorative boxes. Any one of them can hold mysteries and things I've long forgotten about. I think my favorite thing to put in boxes is cards, letters and notes.
In the back of my mind I had thought about doing a post about my boxes one day . . . or maybe not. (Random thoughts of a blogger.) Then, yesterday's story time with Landon and Koen brought my thoughts to the forefront again and after they left, I picked up my camera.
Max Lucado has written some stories about a wood carver named Eli and the Wemmicks he has carved to live in Wemmicksville. In You Are Mine, Punchinello notices that other Wemmicks are collecting boxes to the point that it becomes a race in who can acquire the most. The message he gets from what he sees is that good Wemmicks have a lot and not-so-good Wemmicks have little. Punchinello falls for the trap and goes to sell all he has in order to buy as many boxes as he can. He works overtime and he has no time to play or spend with friends. Things become even more intriguing with the possibility of getting boxes with names on them, so everyone can see what special store they came from.
Punchinello works himself to a frenzy and to a point where he crashes right at Eli's workshop. This is where he and Eli sort everything out and come to the conclusion that it's not what you have that counts, but who you are.
In the back of my mind I had thought about doing a post about my boxes one day . . . or maybe not. (Random thoughts of a blogger.) Then, yesterday's story time with Landon and Koen brought my thoughts to the forefront again and after they left, I picked up my camera.
Max Lucado has written some stories about a wood carver named Eli and the Wemmicks he has carved to live in Wemmicksville. In You Are Mine, Punchinello notices that other Wemmicks are collecting boxes to the point that it becomes a race in who can acquire the most. The message he gets from what he sees is that good Wemmicks have a lot and not-so-good Wemmicks have little. Punchinello falls for the trap and goes to sell all he has in order to buy as many boxes as he can. He works overtime and he has no time to play or spend with friends. Things become even more intriguing with the possibility of getting boxes with names on them, so everyone can see what special store they came from.
Punchinello works himself to a frenzy and to a point where he crashes right at Eli's workshop. This is where he and Eli sort everything out and come to the conclusion that it's not what you have that counts, but who you are.
Now, I realize that the boxes in the story do not fit into neatly packaged ones such as I have shown, but that does not mean I do not have them. That is what I like about these stories. They are written for the adult as much as for the child.
The next story we read was called, If Only I had a Green Nose . . .
11 comments:
A great box collection , Anneliese...and even better 'the moral of the story'!
Now I'm interested in knowing what the message in 'if only I had a green nose' might be. :)
You have me wondering about that green nose, too. :)
Great message in the story time...
I do love boxes, too.
I like boxes, too. I think what may have started it for me is the lacquered one from Russia. It was an unexpected gift and it made a lasting impression.
I do love boxes..any kind! maybe because like you say, they can hold treasures, new or old and maybe forgotten!
A very neat analogy with the 'collecting' of boxes - where the box or materialism becomes more important that people and what they need/are!
Thank you...
I just checked and my nose is not green .. but then neither is my thumb! :-(
Beautiful collection Anneliese. I have a few boxes that are special too. I love Max Lucado and must check into his writings for children. Those stories sound wonderful. Have a great weekend.
My favourite is the wooden Russian one with the flower on top.
Small boxes seem to make big memories! I just realized I should write a small card about each of my few boxes histories and place the card inside the boxes. My children/grandchildren might not know their stories after I am gone; on the other hand, ignorance can be bliss when it comes time to sort out a house load of memories.
Love the story and your boxes! Hope no one ended up with a green nose! :-)
I liked seeing your box collection. Interesting how we find such good lessons in everyday things. Please do share about the green nose.
Well, you just made me stop and realize that boxes do have stories behind them. The few I have certainly do. I like Max Lucado's stories and did not realize he has stories for children. Great idea!
My favourite box - and I too have many - is one I have not decorated at all. Deep carmine red, a square about 8 inches by 8 inches, with a gold design etched across the top with this word in the middle:
ROGERS.
Can you guess? Heh.
Sharon
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