|
The Gift of Heart-made
By: Arleen M. Kaptur
A home is "where the heart is." This has been used in books, songs, and in
greeting cards. It is as modern as tomorrow but with a history of yesterday.
A person's home is where you are always welcome, accepted and cared for.
This "care" comes in all sorts of ways and degrees, and sometimes it is just
in the mind and spirit when a person travels or commitments carry them far
away.
There are "little" things that make a home. That quilt that grandma made is
just the ticket when cold winds blow or it's just been a bad day. A
collection of embroidered towels not only add a touch of beauty to your
kitchen or bath, but are softer and more skin-soothing. A canning jar filled
with hot cocoa mix, brownie mix, or soup mix will always taste better, hit
the spot, and go down with a smoothness that no store-bought, brightly over
packaged,
concoction can ever do. A painting by your aunt or uncle is a treasure for
that wall in your den, as much as that "famous name" one that graces your
front hallway. You pass that one by so many times coming and going, but you
stop in your tracks so many more times in your den.
Christmas stockings made by your sister or that rocker built by your brother
just set the mood for the Holidays and for a wonderful evening in front of
the fireplace. Candles made by a friend, spice mixes or potpourri prepared
by your neighbor, well these are all part of the joy of friendship, but they
are a bit more. All of the above are, of course, hand-made or homemade, but
they are also Heart-made. Nothing made with your hands can ever leave your
hands without a bit of "you" sticking right in there. In other words,
whoever cared enough to make you a "special gift" also cared enough to share
a "bit of themselves" right along.
You are so much richer for these gifts, and the cold nights ahead won't seem
so cold, and the darkness of winter won't seem so dark. There is sunshine in
love and warmth in caring. Those Heart-made gifts have these two qualities
in abundance - to receive them - you are indeed blessed; to give them -
well, God needed helpers on earth to spread the true meaning of Christmas
and friendship and you have undertaken that job.
ENJOY!
**********************************
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2003 November
For a free Simple/Rustic Living Newsletter
please visit
http://www.arleenssite.com.
|
