a treasure in thread

Once upon a late summer afternoon, just before the new school year began, my youngest daughter, all of age 9, was bored. She asked if I might help her learn to cross stitch, and I was delighted to comply. First, I let her sift through my charts until she found a pattern she liked. Next, I gave her a slender tapestry needle, some sturdy Aida fabric stretched in a small hoop, and a few skeins of DMC floss. She proved to be a quick learner, and soon she was happily stitching away. I can see her still in mind’s eye, perched there on the living room loveseat, glancing up from her embroidery with a valiant, “Look what I can do!” grin.

When her lovely star was complete, she felt satisfied. She set her hoop aside and scampered off to play. School started. She stashed her hoop in a drawer.

Leaves turned scarlet, snowflakes fell, violets unfurled. Soon, it would be Mother’s Day, and she knew just what she’d do. She unearthed some white floss, took up her needle, and carefully stitched three small letters into the fabric. She paused, surveyed the letters, then underscored them with one final, affirming stitch. There. Now her gift was ready.

On Mother’s Day when I unwrapped her small offering, I wrapped her up in a huge hug. It was a perfect gift: a moment of captured time to hold in my hand and cherish forever, a daughter’s love made visible, a treasure in thread.

Elysium on earth

And, oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
It is this, it is this.

~Thomas Moore, (1759 – 1882)

the light that shines from within

Nothing can dim the light
that shines from within.

~Maya Angelou, (1928 – 2014)

the soil out of which joy blossoms

Let every hindrance to joy become
the soil out of which joy blossoms.

~Elizabeth George

without leaving a mark

Move lightly through life,
touching the hearts of others
without leaving a mark.

~Unknown

but we can begin

We can’t heal the world today
but we can begin
with a voice of compassion,
a heart of love,
an act of kindness.

~Mary Davis

what you do for a living

When they ask what you do for a living, say, I Love.

~Jaiya John

when you’re standing under the sky

When life feels too big to handle, go outside.
Everything looks smaller
when you’re standing under the sky.

~L. R. Knost

good light

If you see someone who has good light,
thank them for it.
It will help them keep the light on.

~Jaiya John

even the trees leaned toward her

A woman described a friend of hers as being such a keen listener that even the trees leaned toward her, as if they were speaking their innermost secrets into her listening ears. Over the years I’ve envisioned that woman’s silence, a hearing full and open enough that the world told her its stories.

~Linda Hogan