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February 7, 2003 - "Heart Cakes & Critter Cards"
Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"The spiritual meaning of love is measured by what it can do. Love is meant to heal. Love is meant to renew. Love is meant to bring us closer to God." ~Deepak K. Chopra
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Today we have the first installment of our Valentine stories! Mary-Ellen shares what she calls one of her small memories - a sweet remembrance of long-ago Valentine celebrations with her little boy. Next week look for four fantastic love stories! PS - Don't forget to send me your votes for January and February Writers of the Month! I'll post the results next week!
"Heart Cakes and Critter Cards" by Mary-Ellen Grisham
Back then, when David was about four years old, we would look for exciting activities in the quiet time after the holidays. He and I would sit together on the old sofa and look through the bright pictures of the little sale catalogs and spring promotions. Giggling, we would see who could beat with the fingers pointing out the best deals and the most appealing pictures. Those four o'clock "after work and nap is done" rest times were always enjoyable for us.
One afternoon we found some heart-shaped red-enamel baking pans on a page full of valentine offers. David wanted to make a Valentine cake that year, so I ordered the pans, along with some other Valentine surprises.
David, always so active, had played outdoors several long periods each summer day. In the fall, we made little forays to the still productive garden outside the fence on the big vacant lot. We enjoyed those busy four o'clock times gathering the remaining tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, and wizened little brussel sprouts...and occasionally pulling out weeds. As the garden finished for the year, we would stand at his window before Halloween, watching the tall brussel sprout plants turn into little gnomes. In our imaginations, we could see them preparing the garden plot for spring. With the rush of Christmas activities, gifts, and gatherings, we would forget the outdoors for a time; but by January, David and I were looking for some outdoor action.
Pulling on boots, heavy coats, scarves, gloves, and hats, we would tromp out to play in the snow. We never minded the lopsided snowmen or the tumble-down forts. We never minded the pink cheeks or sensitive toes, but we were looking for a purpose with our fun. Kids occasionally came to play, one friend or another, but David wanted more to do. We got "daddy" to shovel from the porch to mid-yard, and we began to fill our four o'clock time with feeding the birds and creatures. Carefully gathering popcorn, raisins, old cereal, bread crusts, nuts, and other left-overs in a small tin pan, we would go out to arrange a small feast for the birds, squirrels, and wild bunnies.
As the week of Valentine's Day approached, I baked the two-layer Valentine Cake. We decorated it with pink icing and red hearts. David wanted to combine our treat with feeding the birds. Valentine's Day we took extra large amounts of food bits outdoors and arranged them in hearts around the yard; we called them critter cards for the little creatures we loved. Then we went indoors to share our cake treat with David's little girl friend who showed up at the fence to see what we were doing.
These small memories still bring a glow of pleasure to us when we reminisce. There was just something lovely about combining play and service with enjoyment of God's beautiful world that stayed in our hearts over the years. And best of all that year--critter cards for God's creatures began to show up in backyards all over the neighborhood-- thanks to David's chatty and very sweet little friend.
(c)2003 Mary-Ellen Grisham
meginrose@empowering.com
Mary-Ellen Grisham is a writer and teacher living in Godfrey, Illinois, with her husband and son. She very much enjoys the sharing and fellowship of writers at 2theHeart. Her most recent stories are "Granny's Gate" and "Christmas Joy," and she has also published Funny Fridays and a few poems over the years with 2theHeart.
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The Letter Box:
Janet, what a wonderful story!It brought back memories of my grandmother. She had a sharp scolding tongue like Rose. As a child I wanted so to please her, but as an adult, I learned that she was in pain. Love is always the answer....to every problem we encounter in life...Thanks for the reminder :) Bobby
Susan,
Excellent true story by Janet Seever, "A lesson for a Lifetime." Just before I read the story I had been silently praying how to interact with a person much like in the story. God's timing is impeccable as the story helped answer my prayer!! Thanks so much, Pam Walck
Susan,
Yes, learning to love someone does make a difference! I had almost the same 'problem' when I first started volunteering at our Senior Center. One lady felt that she was 'over extened' at 26 hours a week, (but no one could do things the 'right' or her way). By doing as Mom would say, "Bring her around with Kindness and Love", we are now Friends. Thank You and Janet for this reminder, Geneva
2theheart,
What a beautiful life lesson. I've also felt that the best way to deal with a situation was with a smile. Thank you for sharing you story. Andi Puntoriero
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