Thumbeline by Hans Christian Anderson, Katherine Atkins

Thumbeline, a wonder-filled tale told by Hans Christian Andersen, is the inner story of one who feels quite vulnerable in the midst of a dangerous world but who still remains sensitive and caring.

It is that care which brings her reward and happiness. It is her greatest power. And so this is a fairy tale whose message is one of salvation and deliverance. It is a story of hope despite desperate times and harsh circumstances. It is a story of overcoming difficult times.

Thus it is a story for us to tell those whom we wish to have hope and whom we would have remain as tender as the lily and as pure as the driven snow.

Tales as these form paradigms in our minds and hearts when we are young and vulnerable. They are a resource to be recalled, if subconsciously, as we mature and find ourselves feeling small and vulnerable in difficult situations and circumstances.