There are things we give that will outlive us. This train of thought pulled into my mental terminal a few days ago while sitting on the deck watching our great nephew Jordan play.
His mom was working late, his Nana had an appointment, Jilda and his Pop were at work, so I picked him up at school.
I asked if he had eaten. “Only a fudge bar, and I am pretty sure that’s not really food, “ he said. I snickered at this observation made by a six year old from rural Alabama. So we headed in search of some chicken fingers.
Back at our house, he went outside to play. He loves to run, especially if I time him and make challenges…like, you have to run touch the back gate, circle the hemlock three times, rattle the fence and then back to the steps before I count to ten.
He takes off like a shot and I adjust the speed of my counting so he comes in just under the wire. Running and being outside gives him incredible joy, and once his runs are completed we sit on the deck and drink cool water.
Soon a tiny hummingbird hovered nearby, drinking nectar from the bleeding heart that is covered in blooms. Neither of us said a word, just watching that tiny bird zip from flower to flower. When it flew away, Jordan stepped over to the plant to smell the flowers.
I told him that his great-great grandmother Mamie gave the plant to Jilda’s mom Ruby, long before his mom was born and that his great-grandmother Ruby gave it to Jilda way before he was born.
He asked if he could meet Mamie and Ruby. When I told him they both had died, he stood there looking at the plant. “It sure is pretty to be so old.” He said.
I told him that some things we give; live long after we are gone. Again he wrestled with what I was trying to say. So I told him that whenever he was kind or did a good deed for someone they remember that kindness.
He nodded and looked as though all those words were swirling around in his brain.
I am not sure what things he will remember, but Jilda and I have always encouraged the kids in our lives to read, to study, work hard and give back to society.
Often I use a quote from Maya Angelou:
“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
I think in the end, that’s all any of us can hope for, that we have given something to the people in our lives to make them feel special and loved.
