Big Black Plastic Bags!

 Big, Black Plastic Bags!

 

When our children were little, we would go see my Grandmother Pollard out at Byers. She and Granddad had moved from the farm before the children were born, so they only heard stories about the farm out in Clay County by the time they were old enough to remember things. My parents and grandparents were big on Christmas things—dinners and such. But about the only thing we celebrated like other folks was Thanksgiving since we celebrated Passover and other Holy days. Anyway, because Mom and Grandmother couldn’t be around each other without sparks flying, we would go visit the grandparents each year with just us and the littles. Grandmother was determined that each time the kids came, they should receive some kind of gift. But she did not wrap anything up like a Christmas present. Granddad always laughed about it, but he helped Grandmother find things the kids would like. Cookies that had been opened, cereal that he didn’t like, or maybe something he found in the house that he thought a child would find interesting. And whatever they put together was always closed up in a big, black trash sack. They were not to open it before they got home, but in the back seat of the car they would giggle and talk quietly as if we were not able to hear them. Cookie crumbs were so delightful!

 

When my children got older and left home, we would go down to Arlington to visit them. We would take a meal already cooked and some kind of little gifts—in a big, black plastic bag. That bag was so much fun for them. Nothing big, but just the idea. Wish the old woman could do that again, but not sure where we would all get together to meet since they are pretty far apart. Guess it is just the idea anyway. May have to find a way to stuff a big bag for each of them sometime soon. They would remember Grandmother’s bags, to be sure!

 

Receiving gifts can be great, but being able to give something is a lot more fun. And it doesn’t have to be any great thing to make it worthwhile. Sometimes it is just the idea of giving things to others that is so special. Maybe that is how God feels about giving things to His children now. No black plastic bags, just good days and happy surprises. These are the things that make life special when we know we are loved and that someone special is thinking about us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.