Gifts of Love

I was just thinking today about gifts of love from family and friends. The little things you do for someone during a difficult time, or even just a token of love and cheer when things are going great! I dedicate this blog to all the special, giving people in my life who demonstrate their love not only in words, but in deeds and thoughtful gestures.

For a few days now, I have been sick with the flu. That's nothing unusual, moreso than any other person has to deal with. But for me, sometimes it can have serious implications because I have asthma. I have to be extra cautious in case my condition suddenly worsens. Fortunately this time, with bed rest and some antibiotics (to deal with bronchitis), I am successfully fending the illness off. And you know what really made me feel even better? When my Dad dropped off 2 big jars of my Mom's homemade vegetable soup this morning, along with some of her coveted skillet cornbread. YUM!! I ate a bunch of the soup for lunch and it filled my belly with warmth, and her cornbread....now that is the BEST!! Not only did the soup & cornbread do my body good, but it did my spirit good as well, because it was a gift given out of love.

That got me to thinking about another recent time where I received a gift of love. My Mom dropped by with 2 of my nieces, Sarah and Rebecca....they'd worked really hard making a bunch of super-delicious, utterly scrumptious mini cupcakes....a whopping 268 of them!!!! And not only were they very beautifully and artistically decorated, but many of them were filled, too!! They really did a wonderful job. And we were so happy when they all stopped by to drop off a nice, big bundle of them for us. We chowed them down...I enjoyed several with my morning coffee...some to wake me up during the afternoon 'doldrums' at work (LOL)...and my husband, John, well he pretty much just ate them at all hours of the day (LOL). Those beautiful cupcakes were so cheery, and such a delightful gift of love. Think of all the effort and care it took to make each one of them.

This is the kind of thing that inspires me even more to want to give gifts of love of my own to others...sort of a "pay it forward" mentality, if you will. And while I often like to express love through cooking or baking, that by no means is the only way....there are so many ways to express love to another....how about changing someone's spark plugs or mowing someone's lawn for them in a time of need- just because- like my thoughtful husband has done on more than one occasion. It can be as simple as walking a dog, giving fresh flowers, taking someone out for lunch for a much-needed break...or simply giving someone a call out of the blue to ask how they have been or even an email (or snail-mail card!) to say.."Just thinking of You".... I encourage you to appreciate the gestures, big and small, given by others in your life...and to reach out to others with your own expressions of love.