Humpty Dumpty figured in this week’s Circle Time story. Little Dragons sang the well-known verse and Humpty obliged by falling off his wall, possibly aided in his dramatic flight by a lingering smell of incense in the church, 

As Humpty lay on the floor, Red Riding Hood happened to pass, no doubt walking to her grandmother’s house.  She stopped and asked if she could help but received no reply from our egg-shaped friend.  As she lingered, wondering what to do, along came Miss Muffett’s
Spider, who also offered assistance, but to no avail.

Humpty Dumpty, apparently being the strong, silent type, lay comatose on the ground.  Aided and abetted by one of the 3 Little Pigs, the friends wondered how they could help our hero. 

No doubt comforted by the presence of friends who cared,

Humpty Dumpty opened his eyes. Falling down had been a surprise.
Humpty Dumpty counted to ten then Humpty Dumpty got up again
- feeling well supported by his friends. 

It wasn’t until later that I associated our simple tale with the story of the Good Samaritan, the main difference here being that in the world of Little Dragons everyone wanted to help and support.

In a few days Frank and I travel to Maldives with our grand-daughter, Aleisha and daughter-in-law, Naazly, in order to visit Naazly’s family. During our trip we will be living in an Islamic society well knowing that we will be cared for and treated royally by all we meet.  We share that precious commodity of friendship despite the fact that our lives and many of our beliefs are very different. What is important is the fact that we are tolerant of each other’s differences, interested in those differences, accepting of each other’s opinions, gaining tremendously from knowing and caring about one another.

I sometimes wonder why, if we are able to meet, learn about and accept people of different faiths, cultures, ways of living, why is it at times difficult to accept the ways of people who are just like us.  Perhaps that’s the problem – we may not like what we see – in ourselves? – ourselves in others?  Perhaps, like Humpty Dumpty we could count up to ten more often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Val Butterworth