Forgiveness

Stitches learns how to share feelings and forgive

Alone on a porch step sat an Apple Gall being named Stitches. Stitches, like all Apple Gall beings, had been created by an oak gall wasp using the essence's of chilocorus circumdatus, red ladybug a lady beetle from Southern Asia, and Liquid Amber tree.

Stitches sat with so much sadness, just watching a busy life happening all around. Stitches had once been a part of that busy life, running, laughing, and usually having a wonderful time. It seemed so long ago, yet actually it had been only three weeks prior to that day when the “event” happened, . It had been a day very similar to this one, with the sun shining and not very hot.

Stitches wanted to get out of this sad mood, and so being that it was a warm day, to go for a swim at the local pond, thinking It might help. Maybe getting out would take away these feelings of anger and sadness. Just as Stitches was getting ready to leave, Pat, who was a giant dog, a good friend, and also an Apple Gall being, happened to be walking by. Pat had been created with essence of Labrador retriever, pheasant, duck, forget me not flower, and liquid amber. Pat could actually fly! An honest to goodness bird dog!

“Pat, it's so good to see you. I was just thinking of going for a little swim at the pond, would you like to join me?”, asked Stitches.

Pat gave out a loud “WOOF”, and then said, “Yes, yes, that would be lovely. Jump on my back and I will take us there.”

Because Stitches was so very small, help was needed to climb onto Pat's back, which Pat gladly gave.

“This is going to be so much fun! I'm so glad you were passing by Pat, going swimming with a friend is so much more pleasurable than going alone”, said Stitches.

Arriving at the pond, both noticed several of their other friends already in the water swimming. They could see Fleur, Nyani, and Rose. Once seeing Stitches and Pat, all three waved in greetings. Stitches instantly froze, and at that point decided to go back home.

Stitches hesitancy to stay, was due to seeing Nyani, whom was the source of Stitches anger. A few weeks earlier, Nyani had said something about Stitches, which was not very nice, at least Stitches didn't think so. Stitches never said anything to Nyani about being upset, instead only walked away and hadn't spoken with Nyani since.

“You know Pat, I think I've changed my mind. Would you mind taking me back home?”, asked Stitches.

“Home, but why? You were so excited to go swimming. Are you not feeling well?”, asked Pat.

“No, no, I am fine. I just changed my mind.” said Stitches.

“Well if you are sure, I will take you home”, said Pat, and turned around.

Sharing With a Friend

Once back at the home, Pat asked, “Um, Stitches, I could not help but notice you became a little upset upon seeing Fleur, Nyani and Rose at the pond. Did that have something to do with you changing your mind and wanting to go back home?”, asked Pat.

Stitches had not realized the anger was so noticeable. In fact, Stiches hadn't realized just how much anger was there.

Stitches thought, “This is not me. Why am I so angry? I've been feeling like this for so long; and I should not still be feeling this way. Maybe if I share my thoughts with Pat, it might help”. And so Stitches began to share what had happened, the reason for these feelings of anger.

“It all began at Fleur's home three weeks prior.”, said Stitches. “Fleur's garden was in full bloom, and Fleur had invited everyone she knew to come and see her beautiful new flowers. Of course I went, especially since Fleur has a special Iris she planted just for me. When I arrived, there were so many others already there, including Nyani, whom I thought to be my friend. I was standing by the iris plant, when Nyani came and stood beside me. I had to look up, you know how little I am, and how tall Nyani is. Well Nyani just looked down at me and said, 'it must be so difficult for you to have to always look up at everything'. I became very upset, walked away, and I haven't spoken to Nyani since.”

“Stitches, You mean to tell me that you didn't say a word? Does Nyani even know you are upset about what was said?”, asked Pat.

“I really don't know if Nyani knows, although, I don't see how that's not possible, it was very evident to me. How can one say something like that to another and imagine the other would not be upset?', Stitches replied to Pat.

Pat, head shaking, said, “You know Stitches, I really can't believe Nyani would ever insult anyone, at least not purposely. Not to mention, I've heard Nyani say so many wonderful things about you. Why would that change? Could it be possible that you misunderstood? Or maybe what Nyani said, was not meant to be an insult, but, rather an observation. We can all say things sometimes that are just observations and it's not meant to be words to hurt another.”

Stitches had to sit and think about what Pat had said. 'Yes, it was true, Nyani has always been so kind to everyone, so there would be no reason to think that Nyani was being mean. Yes, it could be a misunderstanding, after all, everyone can, and does make mistakes after all. Maybe I was feeling a little insecure, wishing I were taller, taller like Nyani.'

“You know Pat, I think you are right, and I have not acted fairly. What I should have done, is spoken with Nyani immediately. Instead of getting mad, and walking away, I should have asked what was meant by that comment,. A good friend would have done that. Instead I got mad, walked away, pouted, and have wasted all this time with so much anger. I feel so embarrassed.”, said Stitches.

“Stitches, please don't feel embarrassed. We have all made a mistake like this at one time or another, that is a part of living. The best lesson is to see what the mistake was, or is, and try to correct it. How about we head back to the pond and you can have a talk with Nyani?”, asked Pat.

Stitches nodded in agreement, and again, with Pat's help, jumped back up onto Pat's back.

Learning to Trust

As soon as Pat and Stitches arrived back at the pond, Nyani, Fleur and Rose ran up to greet them.

Rose was the first to speak, “I'm so glad you came back and hope you are feeling well. We were worried because you left so quickly. We were all looking forward to swimming with you both, and were surprised when we saw you leave.”

“Yes, yes, We wanted to show you how long we can hold Our breath under water now.”, said Fleur.

“Yes, we are so happy you are back. I would like to talk to you Stitches if you have a moment?”, asked Nyani.

“Yes, I would like that also.”, replied Stitches nodding to Nyani.

“Good, while they talk, how about the rest of us wait for them in the water, I can't wait to get wet.', said Pat.

It was a little awkward at first, talks like these usually are. Once the feeling of awkwardness was set aside, the talking began.

“Stitches, I could not help but notice that you might be upset with me and I am not quite sure why. If I have said or done anything to offend, or hurt you, I am so sorry, it was not my intention.”, said Nyani.

Stitches, having had Nyani as a friend for so long, should have known there would be no way Nyani would have intentionally hurt anyone's feelings.

“Nyani, it is I who must apologize to you. You said something to me that hurt my feelings and I did not trust our friendship enough to talk to you about it. That was a big mistake on my part, and I would like to ask for your forgiveness.”, replied Stitches.

“Oh, my dear friend, please tell me what it was that I said. I never want to hurt your feelings ever again.”, said Nyani.

“It was at Fleur's garden party, You said, 'it must be so difficult for you to have to always look up at everything', and I felt like you were making fun of how small I am. I realize now that I was wrong. You would never do that. At that moment, I was feeling a little sad because I am so small and not tall like you and so many others. I was afraid I took it out on you", said Stitches.

Nyani, bent over and gently lifted Stitches, and ever so gently, kissed Stitches' cheek. “My dear, dear friend, please also forgive me for not following you immediately afterwards. I could see you were upset. I was afraid that I had said something wrong, and did not trust myself to say the right thing to fix it. I sometimes don't know how to say what I'm feeling, but I am trying to do better. You see, I also have trouble in trusting myself about talking with my friends about certain feelings. What I learned today is, it doesn't matter who we are, how tall or small, sometimes it can be difficult for some to trust and share certain emotions.”

Stitches snuggled into Nyani's hand, it was nice to have such a good friend, especially one who understood and shared the same feelings as well as emotions.

“Shall we promise to always trust that we can speak to each other about our feelings. To trust that when there are doubts, or just things, we are not sure about, that we can still trust to talk with each other about them.”, said Nyani.

“Yes, I promise. That would be lovely. It is so hard being angry and sad all the time. I missed you, and I missed myself.”, replied Stitches. And with that both joined the others in the pond.