The Greatest Mother's Day Gift
What was I to do? On Friday my kindergarten teacher had taught us about Mother's Day. This was 1953, before children made gifts in school, so, I was in charge, I was six years old, and I had 35 cents. There were the three of us, Momma, me, and 4 year old Robbie. What could Robbie and I give her? Taking his hand we walked to the little shopping center next to our housing development. Shocked? It was 1953. Kids could do that. I had decided on the perfect gift. Sweet peas. I was going to buy her a big bouquet of flowers. Her favorite kind. I could see the surprise and excitment on her face as she held them and smelled them - I could see it all.
We pushed open the big door of the florist shop. I was so shy but filled with confidence at that moment, "Do you have any sweet peas?" I blurted out. "No," was all the woman said.
We wandered around the stores, Robbie's hand hot in my one hand, the thirty-five cents hot in the other. In Woolworth's 5&10 I settled on a seed packet. The picture of sweet peas was beautiful. Just what I had imagined.
At home I wrapped it. The more I wrapped, the worse it looked, it was more wrap than gift. Looking at it I felt as small and disappointing as it was.
Mother's Day morning in San Diego, California was bright and sunny. I brought out the gift. Momma sat down and lifted me onto her lap. I felt her warm arms around me as she opened her only gift. She told me how beautiful it looked, commented on my great taping job, and carefully opened it. "Oh, Jeanie, you remembered that I love sweet peas! Let's plant them now!"
They knelt in the dirt, planting side by side, two itty- bitty kids and a mother giving them her greatest gift.
7 comments:
That is a very sweet story. i bet your mom loved that mothers day.
what a sweet, sweet, lovely story! that is the best kind of gift.
Oh my gosh! I am SO pregnant. I can't read, hear, talk, do anything without sobbing. I love your story - and you told it so beautifully. Now I'm going to wash mascara off my face.
I'm not pregnant and you still made me cry. this story makes me want to be a more gracious mom. thank you :)
This is precious. Ps I love this blog! It makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.
I loved that story, thanks for sharing!
It's so true. I am crying too! This year was the first year I got a mother's day gift from my son. A tile that he drew flowers and a sun on. When I was a kid, I never understood why mom's loved those things so much. Thinking to myself, it's... a tile... Now though, oh! I will keep that tile forever!! I have never loved a gift so much! It is so pure, it came from his heart and went straight to mine!!
Post a Comment