Simple Peter’s Mirror
…was one of my favorite stories as a child. They story can be found in Fairy Tales by Terry Jones Illustrated by Michael Foreman (10pts to you if you can tell me what else Terry Jones has done to be well known?!).
It tells the story of Peter, who is given a mirror; “It is a magic mirror. Anyone who looks into it will see themselves not as they are, but as other people see them. And that’s a great gift, you know, to see ourselves as others see us”.
At first Peter sees only a goose when he looks into the mirror. The reflection of the goose motivates Peter to go out and seek his fortune, in hopes that people will see him as he really is. His first act is to rescue a princess by tricking and frightening a dragon. After this, he looks in the mirror and sees a fierce and brave lion. Peter is upset, he wants nothing more than to be seen as he is, not as a lion or a goose.
Peter explains the magic mirror to the princess; she begins to understand and see Peter for who he is. The decide to marry. The queen is worried because Peter does not come from royal blood and that the people of the kingdom will make fun of him.
“On the day of the wedding, Peter was dressed up in the finest clothes, trimmed with gold and fur. But when he looked in the magic mirror, do you know what he saw? Instead of a rich magnificent prince, he saw himself in his own rags – Simple Peter. But it didn’t worry him. He smiled and said to himself: At last! Everyone sees me as I really am!”
As a kid, I always wished that I had that magic mirror.
I think of myself as a simple woman, I don’t like to put on airs, or appear to be something I’m not. I hope that is what a magic mirror would reflect back to me. I hope that is what my behavior reflects to others.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:54 am
I don’t think I ever heard that story, now I am going to have to find it and read it to my boys.
You look so cute pregnant. When are you due again?
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Would that be the same Terry Jones known for writing the screenplay to the Labyrinth and co-directing Monty Python? If so, super cool! I had to look up his credentials, but I am a big fan of his work. I watched the Labyrinth everyday when I was little.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
What a great story! I’ve never heard it before … so glad to know of it now.
As someone who knows you well, I can assure you that you are just as genuine in the eyes of others as you hope you are. So proud to have you as my sister-in-law! : )