Gifts!

Genuine simplicity of heart is a healing and cementing principle.

                                         Edmund Burke

This has been one heck of a week. There has been a lot of lying around whining and moaning about being sick, and yes I do realize that was all me. I’m sick of it.

The week had brought many gifts that I have not talked about because I guess the old saying “Once a whiner always a whiner” as my Mom used to say to me. This obviously must be a true statement.

Late one night and feeling miserable, I had gotten up and went to sit in my kitchen, in the dark while once again feeling sorry for myself. I wrapped a knitted squares blanket my Mom had knitted and my sister Lizzy had pieced together around my shoulders. I was worried about my not being able to visit my Mom for the last two weeks because of this flu. Worried about the Alzheimer’s stealing my memory away from her, and worrying she would never again remember who I was. I held tight to that memory holding knitted gift of her love, feeling her love wrapped around me, I hoped it would be OK.

Sitting on a quilt that was my Dad’s, reminding me of the simple gift of memories wrapped in those seemingly simple handmade pieces, I kept thinking. The universe, and not to forget My Hero, had been listening to my constant whining this past week. Both had chosen to give me gifts in spite of that whining. A jerk back to reality should be what I call it. I finally turned to the window and then looked outside.

The quarter moon shone as bright as any light I had ever seen. Its brilliant rays slid down to the ground which was sprinkled with a new coating of lightly fallen snow, light and fluffy. That snow glistened and the sparkles danced across the cold ground, celebrating the light. The shadows created by that brilliant light mixed with the standing tall out buildings danced across the barn walls. Then that same light bounced from its roof and bounced back to the sky where the stars twinkled and danced. It was truly magnificent. There is so much to be grateful for in this world, was what I was then thinking.

Sitting there for more than an hour, I carefully pulled Mom’s knitted blanket from my shoulders, laid it gently on the arm of the chair, on top of my Dad’s old quilt and headed back to bed, smiling.

I had almost forgotten that there are a lot of people in this life, possibly at that very same moment, going through something they believe to be their “worse thing ever” and not whining. I had forgotten that there are gifts everywhere if we will only take the time to notice. Everything has a reason. I know we all may not believe that at the time, but I have to trust that there is.

After a restful night’s sleep and a more tolerable day, My Hero showed up that evening with two chocolate bars and a smile. The next morning he thought I should get out of the house after well over a week of hiding and whining. 

Believing him, I finally ventured out to town, with My Hero by my side. He took me out for a lovely Valentines breakfast. With this old belief back where it should have stayed I knew there was a reason for the sickness and the slowing down of my, till that point, hectic life. I realized that whining will not cure nor change anything.

Gifts…..see what I mean? The ones bought are nice, but the ones that have always been and rediscovered, are truly the best.

Later