October 2007                         

Learning to share is a large step in one’s development.  I remember how hard it was to share when I was a small child during the War and had to share an orange, the first I had ever seen, with my sister.  I probably did it with little grace. Likewise, with toys and books (especially books), the sharing bit was not my favourite aspect of having a sister. 

However, by dint of a lot of experience and some pain, most of us learn to share and are happy to share much of our world and worldly goods with others.

It can be quite amusing to observe very young children who both want the same toy.  Often unable to speak coherently, they may stand silently but their body language and facial expression more than adequately convey their message, “This is mine so keep your hands off it!”  Further development may inspire the child to take a poke at the other participating combatant, sometimes resulting in howls of rage and frustration followed, hopefully, by sensible intervention by carers perhaps leading to a satisfactory conclusion or, certainly, a step in the learning process for one or other of the children.

Sharing is a hard lesson to learn but once having become an established part of a person, can be such a source of joy, especially when the sharing is done with someone special. 

Childhood memories of sharing a favourite book; teenage memories of sharing precious moments with a ‘special’ friend; the magic moments of sharing the joy at the birth of a child; to each one of us those special events in a lifetime, sharing with others, which may have made those moments times to remember always.

Fortunate, indeed, are those who have learned to share talents, joys, sorrows, and possessions with others.

Val Butterworth

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