Today, I am taking it upon myself to add a beautiful children’s book to our world’s collection of “Great Works”.
The messages in the writings parallel those messages left by Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Jesus, Krishnamurti, Buddha and many masters of our worldly existence…
There are many powerful books out there. Ones that come to mind are: the Bible, the Qur’an, the Book of Mormon, the Tao Te Ching, Siddhartha, The Absorbent Mind, the Pyramid Texts of Ancient Egypt, The Diamond Sutras, the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita, Tanakh, the Torah, the Divine Principle, the Book of Shadows and The Montessori Way…. and of course, being a lover of animals and deeply concerned about their treatment….Eating Animals.
I share this new book with you as a reminder of how powerful written works are.
The above books are very deep and influence and change many lives….but I’d like to share a book that should be at the top of this list as one of the most powerful books in the world.
Many of the above books have influenced my life…but not like the book I’m about to share has.
My title for this book is
The Book of Tanner
This book of true spirituality was created during one morning work cycle in our Montessori Children’s House between the hours of 9:20 and 12:00 on July 7, 2011.
Tanner so carefully prepared his work space with the tools that he needed to create his masterpiece.
I watched as Tanner gathered paper, a pencil and a stapler. He seated himself on his knees at the Sketch table and positioned the table so that he had the space he needed to create.
I went about my morning giving lessons and observing our children absorbed in their work. Amazed, as usual, at what you truly witness if you take the time to observe. My observations are what allow me to understand our children on a deeper level and serve them accordingly.
Periodically, I would glance over at Tanner across the room and smile knowing he was at peace, absorbed in his work.
While working with a small group of children, about an hour later Tanner, walked up to me like Tanner does…..so calm, centered and knowingly.
He waited until I was done giving a lesson and quietly said, “Ms. Kerri, would you like to see the book that I made?” I shared that I certainly would. He handed it to me and showed me how to open it and he said, “There’s pages inside”, and walked away, as quiet as the power of silence.
I finished what I was doing with the other children
and then began my study of The Book of Tanner……
This book is very different from a book with page after page. Tanner created the book by stapling many pages together in the form of a file. And in each “file compartment” was a smaller piece of paper that we will call a page with one word written on it.
I looked at the entire book in awe. He so carefully put the pages together and then stapled them just right so that it formed this unique style book. Then I dove in to read it.
I took out the little pages one by one….
My heart sunk as I read Tanner’s affirmations.
The pages stated:
“Help the World”
“Be Nice”
“Love”
“Help Animals”
“Care”
“Hugging”
“Help Old People”
What was so amazing about this book was that each word was resting in it’s own sacred space.
I truly feel this was symbolizing the importance of each message…..one not more or less important than the next.
I think that the pocket pages were reminders of how carefully we must hold onto to the Principles of Tanner and of Life.
One might say that a child could not consciously put so much symbolism in his writing at such an early age, but I believe, it is Tanner’s deep connection to the “Universal Spirituality” that one possesses inside and can tune into when one opens up to their inner child.
Many moments later, Tanner so calmly, centered and filled with a sense of knowing that he had touch my life forever….walked over, took his book and before walking away quietly said one sentence.
“It’s like an envelop, but it’s not sticky”……
I smiled knowing that Tanner had just provided me with a profound statement right in alignment with….”Nothing is worth more than this day” (by Goethe)
This statement about the sticky envelop reminded me that this deep child, so in tune with spirituality, was still a delicate blossoming child that appreciates the complexity of existence, but also the simplicity of the glue on an envelop.
When reflecting on this one sentence today, it brought my understanding of it, much, much deeper.
Life can be “Sticky” sometimes, but if you look deep within (the pages of his book and yourself)…you will find all of the guidance you need during your lifetime…..
We need look no further than…
“Help the World”
“Be Nice”
“Love”
“Help Animals”
“Care”
“Hug”
and
“Help Old People”
I will keep The Book of Tanner in my heart forever.
I will share it with others, like I have shared so many other works.
I thank you Tanner for sharing your masterpiece and allowing me to look within and stay in tune with what is really important in our life time!
This, my friends is
Why the World Needs More Montessori……..
Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 6:38PM 
While planting our garden, Ryan leaned down, stood up and said, "Mommy, Look how beautiful the design is on this snail." We observed it closely and admired the multicolor swirls and intricate patterns. Ryan, took a deep breath after looking at it and we continued our gardening. It crossed my mind for a moment to suggest that Ryan make sure that there wasn't a living creature inside of the snail and to put it in a safe place so he wouldn't be upset later if he had to look for it. Those thoughts came and went. We finished our planting for the evening.