The twelve gifts of Birth

once upon a time, a long time ago, when princes
and princesses lived in faraway kingdoms, royal
children were given twelve special gifts when
they were born. You may have heard the stories.
Twelve wise women of the kingdom, or fairy
godmothers as they were often called, traveled
swiftly to the castle whenever a new prince or
princess came into the world. Each fairy
godmother pronounced a noble gift upon the
royal baby.

As time went on, the wise women came to
understand that the twelve royal gifts of birth
belong to every child, born anywhere at anytime.
They yearned to proclaim the gifts to all children,
but the customs of the land did not allow that.
One day when the wise women gathered together
they made this prophecy:
Some day, all the children of the world will learn
the truth about their noble inheritance. When that
happens a miracle will unfold on the kingdom of
Earth.
Some day is near. Here is the secret they want
you to know.
At the wondrous moment you were born, as you
took your first breath, a great celebration was
held in the heavens and twelve magnificent gifts
were granted to you.
1. Strength is the first gift. May you remember to
call upon it whenever you need it.
2. Beauty is the second gift. May your deeds
reflect its depth.
3. Courage is the third gift.May you speak and
act with confidence and use courage to follow
your own path.
4. Compassion is the fourth gift. May you be
gentle with yourself and others. May you forgive
those who hurt you and yourself when you make
mistakes.
5. Hope is the fifth gift. Through each passage
and season, may you trust the goodness of life.
6. Joy is the sixth gift. May it keep your heart
open and filled with light.
7. Talent is the seventh gift. May you discover
your own special abilities and contribute them
toward a better world.
8. Imagination is the eighth gift. May it nourish
your visions and dreams.
9. Reverence is the ninth gift. May you
appreciate the wonder that you are and the
miracle of all creation.
10. Wisdom is the tenth gift. Guiding your way,
wisdom will lead you through knowledge to
understanding. May you hear its soft voice.
11. Love is the eleventh gift. It will grow each
time you give it away.
12. Faith is the twelfth gift. May you believe.
Now you know about your twelve gifts of birth.
But there is more to the secret that the wise
women knew. Use your gifts well and you will
discover others, among them a gift that is
uniquely you. See these noble gifts in other
people. Share the truth and be ready for the
miracle to unfold as the prophecy of the wise
women comes true.