Sophion, Uncle Humph and The Fourth Box of Joy

Sophion(TM), Uncle Humph(TM) and The Fourth Box of Joy(TM)What happens when the stories we tell children must contain both blessings-and warnings?Young Jesse the Chief Steward(TM) of the Mysteries of Community is only about eight days old when Melody and Joe decide it is time to take him somewhere very important: Dave's House(TM).There are songs. Candles. Blessings. Old stories. New stories. And, naturally, sandwiches.There Jesse meets Anna the Ant Eating Prophetess(TM), who has spent many years helping creatures remember hopeful things, and Simeon the Sober and Ancient One(TM), who has been waiting a very, very, very long time to meet this particular little baby.Simeon holds Jesse carefully and tells stories of peace, Joy, community, dreams, and hopes fulfilled.But he also tells the truth.There will be tears. Divisions. Sorrows. And strange knots that may take generations to understand-and untie.The Fourth Box of Joy(TM) is a gentle story about hope, truth, memory, and the sacred responsibility of telling children stories that lovingly prepare them for the road ahead. Because communities are built not only upon songs of blessing, but upon truthful stories-and children are listening.Always.Like every book in The Mabuhay Stories(TM), this tale invites readers to read aloud, illuminate their own lifelong edition, share the story together-and, if they wish, sing along with the 45-second Melody of Grace and Mercy and Peace, Mercy Has No End.Because hopeful stories need not pretend sorrow does not exist.They can tell the truth about the road ahead-and still teach us to walk it with Joy.Mabuhay!