It was a cold, starry winter evening when seven-year-old Amara, whose name means "The Beloved", had a fierce argument with her parents. The reason for the argument was so trivial that Amara could hardly remember it later. But in her anger, she ran out of the house and into the dark forest. The cool night air bit at her cheeks, and the snow crunched beneath her boots. Soon, she had lost her way.
The darkness of the forest seemed to swallow her. Amara felt fear rising within her. Tears ran down her cheeks as she desperately sat on a fallen tree trunk. Sobbing, she sank into a deep sleep. In her dream, fairies, elves, and dwarfs appeared. They were surrounded by a gentle, golden light and had a loving, wise aura. "Amara", said one of the fairies, with a voice like a soft breeze, "we are here to reveal a truth to you".
The elves told her about the threads of life that connect everything. They showed Amara images from a past life where she had treated her parents poorly. "What you are experiencing now is an opportunity for healing", said a dwarf with sparkling eyes. "Your soul chose this experience to grow and discover the power of forgiveness".
The elves took Amara by the hand and led her to a beautiful gingerbread house deep in the forest. The house smelled of cinnamon and honey, and smoke rose from the chimney. An old, loving witch opened the door. Her face was lined with the joy and wisdom of age, and her eyes sparkled like stars. "Welcome, Amara", she said with a warm voice. "I know why you are here". The witch recited a poem that deeply touched Amara's heart:
You carry the weight of time, But love transforms every rhyme. Forgive yourself, forgive them too, And the light within you will bloom anew.
With these words, the heaviness in Amara's heart lifted. She felt a warmth she had never known before. When she awoke from her dream, everything was clear. She understood why her parents had been so angry, and she felt a deep love and forgiveness in her heart.
As she woke, a glowing trail of light appeared before her in the snow - a path that would lead her safely home. Guided by this thread of light, Amara ran through the forest until she finally reached the edge of the woods. There, her parents stood, desperately searching for her. When they saw their daughter, tears of joy ran down their cheeks. They embraced Amara tightly, and their hearts reunited.
Amara told them about her dream, the wise nature beings, and the old witch who had helped her. Her parents were deeply moved. Together, they held a gratitude ritual, thanking Mother Earth and the beings of the forest. They asked for forgiveness for past karma and expressed their desire to live in love and harmony.
Later that evening, as they sat together by the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, they felt a deep warmth in their hearts. Candles flickered gently, and the scent of pine branches filled the room. The mother took Amara's hands and said, "No one is without a past, and no one is without a future. Let us live each moment in love".
That night, surrounded by candlelight and the warmth of the fire, they felt that the past and the future were one – connected by the love that heals all.
December 24, 2024, Peter Tobler
