ABRACADABRA

As part of our Christmas decorations in the bookstore…high upon a shelf tucked into a corner…we have placed our Christmas elf. And high above the books themselves…it is also worth noting are some Harry Potter candles…that look as if they’re floating. We have a sign up front to help the children understand If they find our elf on the shelf…we’ll put a magic wand in their hand. We show them how it works then say, “The rest is up to you…. can you turn those candles on…with a magic word or two?” And without much prompting…into action the children spring… as their parents and I smile, sit back…and watch the magic do its thing. It’s amazing how wonderful it makes you feel…watching a child with a magic wand… repeating magic words as they turn our candles on. And listening to them say, when they return the wand to me…. “Mom, Dad…I turned the candles on…it was magic…did you see?” And watching the parents faces lights up smiling and laughing…unabashed as they watch their child enjoy the moment…when they see the magic flash. One thing we didn’t expect…but something we quickly learned is all the adults out there…who want to take a turn. Who, literally, jump up and down at the chance to hold that magic wand… to say the magic words and turn our Christmas candles on. I love seeing the children in the store… their arms raised as they wave the magic wand… Saying Abracadabra, Lumos, even…To infinity and beyond… And I love something I didn’t expect but is just as enjoyable to see… how a magic wand can remind us all…of the child we used to be