It was last Friday.
Jase had gone out to get the mail.
He came in with news, but it wasn’t the mail which brought it.
“Mom, the neighbors are having a yard sale!”
I smiled.
We’ve gone to yard sales for years and the last two summers I’ve joined with Sis and Tim in having one.
Jase really enjoys them.
So, I told him if he could get Anne to go with him they could go to the sale.
I was busy cooking.
Anne knows how much Jase enjoys a yard sale and I think she likes them too, because it wasn’t long before they left.
What surprised me was how soon I heard the front door open.
But only one voice responded to mine, when I asked how it went.
“Mom, I thought you would like this. I know you love hydrangeas, and you had to leave all of yours when we moved, I hope you like it.”
Her worried smile startled me as much as her words surprised me.
She was holding a fairly large potted hydrangea, about a third of it was rather dead looking.
“Oh wow! Honey, thank you! What did it cost? Can I pay you back?”
“No, Mom. It was only $2 because it’s dieing. Do you think you can save it?”
“It’s worth a try!”
I wiped my hands and thanked her.
Since I didn’t have time right then, I gave it some water and went back in the house to finish cooking.
It was a while later when both returned from the yard sale.
Jase had bought a scooter.
His other one is a cherished gift, an antique from the UK.
He doesn’t ride it much, because it’s a bit small for him now and I’ve asked him to be super careful with it.
His yard sale find is bigger and definitely seen plenty of use, so it’s perfect for everyday around the block.
Anne’s other purchase was a pot.
One of the trees on our other property had beautiful yellow flowers every Spring and we all loved it.
So, I was determined to bring a tiny sapling which had grown the year before we moved.
Over this last winter I mentioned the thing looked dead, but my husband wisely advised we wait for Spring and see if it was.
To our joy it put out leaves.
It’s now in need of a new pot.
Anne had thought of this and bought me a the pot.
When I had time I looked over the hydrangea.
The part which had died was putting out new growth.
The pot was really small and it was very root bound, so I decided to place the hydrangea in the new pot.
Our tree can wait till it goes dormant for a new pot.
I have really enjoyed the new plant.
But what warms my heart is my daughter’s love and care for me.
Both the plant and the pot were her way of letting me know she noticed what I had to give up with our move and was trying to give it back in a small way.
Years ago our oldest did something similar.
She had bought me some books which I’d left behind in the UK from our move.
Both girls showed me their love in simple ways of remembering my little moments of letting go.
Simply loving me like this is such a blessing.
I am humbled by their love and attention.
I know it’s a reflection of Jesus’s love.
1 John 4:19 KJV — We love him, because he first loved us.
John 13:34 KJV — A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Romans 12:10 KJV — Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for my family. Thank You for our children. Thank You for Your love which has been poured out upon us. Please continue to help us be people who love in the simple things, people who look for the details, because it’s the small things which add up to the large. Please help us to be faithful in the little things. Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us such love, mercy, patience, and understanding. Please let our lives bring glory to Yours. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 