Candle or the Mirror?

This week, as I unpacked and cleaned and straightened, I came across a box packed with picture I want to keep close – pictures of my children as little ones, of my own school days, pictures of Christmases and birthdays and vacations. There was also a sweet little painting my niece Melanie made, framed, and gave me quite a few years ago.  It is a mama mouse caring for her baby mouse.  Very cute.  It has had a premier spot on my office cabinet shelf since the day I got it.

I took the picture out of the  box and was in the process of setting it on a shelf above my computer when a piece of paper fell out.  It was folded up small and sealed with a tiny sticker.  I opened it up and read:  “My dearest Kay Kay,  What would I be without you?…”  Melanie expressed her feelings for me, what I had meant to her, and how I had helped and encouraged her.  So much love in so tiny a note!

Melanie is all grown up now, with three married children and a grandbaby.  We live far apart and haven’t seen each other in quite a while.  But that note blessed me beyond words.

How could it be that a little folded note could stay tucked inside a simple slide-in frame for years, then one day suddenly fall out?  Here is my explanation:  That note, written with love, stayed tucked away until the moment I was meant to read it.  Until a time when I needed encouragement.  A time when I needed to know there is value in my life.  And this happened to be that time.

Thank you, Melanie, for this unexpected Christmas gift of love and encouragement.  I will pass those blessings on by writing a surprise note to someone who has blessed my life.  In fact, I will make that a new Christmas tradition!

Blessed Christmas to you, sweet niece.

And a blessed Christmas to all of you!  Won’t you help me pass it on?

There are two ways of spreading light: 

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

~Edith Wharton~