Psalm 119:162, “Your word makes me happy, like someone who has found a great treasure.”
This past summer, I was cleaning up and clearing out my closet. I had purchased some great (and pretty) storage containers and was ready to organize my closet. When you begin a task like cleaning out a closet, you never know what you are going to find.
I did find laying on the floor a few price tags that had been cut off new clothing items, dust balls in the corners, and plenty of items to give away. But…there was one little area in top of my closet that I must have placed some treasures from the past.
When I opened a worn and dusty yellow box my eyes widened and a flood of memories came rushing to my mind. This all happened before I even opened the box. I knew what was in it. I wiped away the dust from the top and carefully open the box. There they were. Just like I had remembered them. A smile came across my face as I unfolded the precious “his” and “hers” pillowcases. These weren’t just any old pillowcases. My great grandmother Olive Hillard had sewn the embroidriment by hand.
I was only about twelve years of age when she gave them to me. She knew that she probably would not be around when I got married, and she wanted to give me something to remember her by. I can recall thinking, “I’m a little young for these, but thank you.” The hand-written note enclosed said:
“Dearest great grandaugher. These pillow cases are for your home to be used long after Mamie (we called her grandma Mamie) has gone to her Heavenly home and I hope you will be blessed with much happiness.”
I can imagine her frail and sun-beaten hands doing something she loved to do for someone that she loved. She loved to sew, and she loved her family.
Oh, but wait. This wasn’t all I found. More treasures! A delicate handkerchief that my gracious granny would carry to church every Sunday was in the yellow tox too. I dearly loved my granny. Walking through the woods to her house (Yes, I know, you are now singing the song, “Over the river and through the wood to granmother’s house we go.” but it is true.) almost on a daily basis was a must. The time I spent with her and grandpa are definitely treasured memories.
There was an envelope with a 1921 silver dollar in it that a dear old lady, we all called her Aunt Verna, gave me for one of my birthdays. Aunt Verna owned the old, small, wooden, two story grocery store (she lived on the second floor) in our “neck of the woods”. When you visualize an old country store with the candy in the glass containers and rickety wooden floors, you’ve imagined Aunt Verna’s old country store. My oh my how I’m making myself sound old. The memories of my friend Paula Sue and I walking to the store to buy a small bottle of Dr. Pepper or Coke and a candybar, and then walk slowly down the road, and occasionally sitting in the middle of it (there was very little traffic), to enjoyour purchase (for probably only about 50 cents, is another treasured memory.
The final treasure I found I the box was a letter from dad with a small jewelry box close by. Inside the jewelry box was a ring that belonged to my great-grandmother (Grandma Mamie). The diamond was not attached, but was included in the box. This small ring may or may not have cost much when first purchased, but to me it is priceless.
All these treasures from long ago make me smile and feel my heart with happiness.
We probably all have a treasure laying around our home. The bible. Do you need to dust it off like I did the old and tathered yellow box, or do you get delight each day from reading God’s word?
I hope you find treasures in God each day.
Blessings to you.
November 13
