I was around six or seven when I first heard Hans Christian Anderson's The Princess and the Pea.  At the time, I was just too young to realize how ridiculous a way that is to find a spouse.  I was, however, quite amused by the idea of the pea under the mattresses and decided to see if it worked.  (I think I was also hoping to discover that I was actually royalty.)  I dragged four mattresses to the living room - I have no idea how I managed that - piled them one a top the other, and lay down after placing a fork beneath them.  Needless to say, I did not feel anything.

As I think on that incident, I'm amazed at how easily I accepted what I heard.  As a child, I would never have thought to ask why there were seven dwarves instead of six.  Or why Aladdin was only allowed three wishes.  Or why Cinderella had to be back by the stroke of midnight.  That is just the way things were.  I accepted them and trusted that in the end, all would live happily ever after.    

Today, if I were to hear such a tale I wouldn't even pause to wonder if there could be any truth behind it.  Growing up has a way of curing us of the gullibility of childhood.  Unfortunately, we seem to lose the ability to place simple trust in others as well.  

Of late, I’ve realized how terrible a loss that really is.  The faith of a child that is something I no longer have.  And without it, questioning - and even refusing - the Father's leading has become all too easy.    

Here’s a link to The Princess and the Pea for all those who've never heard the story before.