Gifts from the heart...

 

There was a sweet surprise on my desk yesterday. A folded piece of purple construction paper said “for you” and inside was a rock and a little “I love you” from one of my students. Now first of all, you have to know that I LOVE rocks, although I don’t remember ever communicating this fact to my students. I collected them as a child, I have them on my window sill, I have some on my desk in a little basket. I have rocks I picked up at the beach twenty years ago! Second, a little background information. We recently read Franklin’s Christmas Gift. Franklin is confused about what to give for the annual toy drive. At first he is selfish and wants to give a broken truck, but by the end of the story he gives away his prized marble collection. So now here is the rest of my rock story: I asked my student where she got the pretty rock and she said, “I have a collection.” I just about cried! That rock is going to stay on my desk until I quit teaching!

And yes, this morning I polished up a rock from my collection to give to her.

Last week I failed to mention another heart-warming gift I received: a crocheted scarf made by a blind woman. I’ll wait while you think about that for a moment… Yes, a woman who is legally blind and can barely see well enough to feed herself used her time and talent to make a scarf for me. Not only that, but she asked her daughter to pick out yarn colors that I like. I was very touched, especially since she is someone I’ve only known for a short time.

And cheese! The FedEx man brought us cheese! There is no more perfect food than cheese. One of our friends knows that and sent us a gift box from a great little dairy in California. It not only contained a variety of cheeses, but dried apricots (Gary’s favorite) and dark chocolates (my other love). That’s a gift from the heart!

My point this morning is that a gift from the heart says that the giver has been paying attention. It doesn’t have to be something expensive or the latest “it” item everyone else is getting. A $2 cowboy hat ornament says “I was listening when you told me about your Western themed tree.” A pretty seashell says, “I remember the time we spent at the beach last summer, do you?”  Something specific to your likes and needs says “I know who you are.”

That’s a gift from the heart.

(The photo is me with the first elephant Gary ever gave me.)

 

Comments

[Marilyn Crabtree]

Yes, indeed. Those are gifts of the heart. Just being aware of things said during the year can give us clues. But do I do that?
No, but your blog gives me the thought!! Thanks.

[Megan]

I like to think that when someone gives me something that they could have selected any of an umpteen amount of things and found that one particular thing perfect for me. That is the real meaning of "it's the thought that counts" to me--not the actual gift, the thought that went into the selecting.

Love your little one for the rock. Precious story.