My Most Prized Possession

I am not one to put value on material things in life. . . I recognize my life is blessed with a richness far beyond what house I live in or the car that I drive. However, I do have one possession that I have come to honor much more than I ever thought I would. Did I ever share with you my very most prized possession? The one object that truly means the most to me? The object that brought tears to my eyes when received, and the thing I would be most heartbroken over if ever lost or damaged?

Here it is . . .

This little statue. It brings tears to my eyes just looking at it right now.

I first saw this little angel about one year after my Dad passed away. Katie was about 6 months old and PG and I were at a nearby mall doing some quick Christmas shopping when we went into a little gift store and saw this little angel. I must have been extremely hormonal at the time . . . because I started crying the minute I read it.  Ok, it wasn't the hormones. It was the words . . . it reads:

Perhaps

they are

not stars in

the sky

but rather

openings where

our loved ones

shine down to let

us know they

are happy.

I stood in that store, and cried. I couldn't control myself. My father had passed less than one year before this time, I was a new Mom with a 6 month old, and the thought of my Dad shining down to let me know he was happy just about did me in.

But, we didn't buy it.

We were in between paychecks, we had a new baby, we were adjusting to me working part-time, and it was the holidays. PG and I had already said we were not exchanging gifts that year. The last thing I "needed" was this statue. I "needed" baby food, diapers, and gifts for other family members. I didn't "need" this angel. Even though it was only $20, and even though PG tried to convince me to purchase it, I wouldn't let it happen. So, we left.

Fast forward one month later . . . and Christmas Day. I had actually forgotten about this angel. But . . . PG did not. I think he actually found it online and ordered it, all without me knowing. Now THAT is a good man. The minute I opened the box, tears filled my eyes. I cried and cried. To this day, I think of this angel - and my dad smiling down on me, and my heart is filled with such love.

Yes, THIS is my most prized possession.

This weekend, I walked into my bedroom to find the girls were playing store. Now, for the record, they usually do NOT play in my room. They know that Mommy and Daddy's room is off limits (I mean - they pretty much have control of the rest of the house . . . I need at least one space of quiet and solitude, right?) So, I walked in and saw that they moved my angel. I just about hit the roof. They were very cautious with it (or so they said), but I have visions of them jumping on my bed using it as a microphone singing a Hannah Montana song into it, swinging it around like they were Steven Tyler himself. Yes ... that darn imagination of mine got the best of me. So, I picked it up like it was a newborn baby and returned it to my TALL dresser, where it usually sits. I then asked both of the girls to sit very still on my bed as I knelt in front of them to discuss the importance of this statue.

"Mommy?" Ella asked, "Is it heaven?"

"Well," I answered, "not really. But it is as close to heaven as Mommy can imagine. So, it's really important to me. And it's really important that we are gentle with it. That we don't move it, or touch it, or play with it, ok? If you want to see it - just ask me. I will bring it down and let you look at it. ok?"

They both nodded their heads in agreement. I'm fairly sure they understood. (fingers crossed.)

How about you? Anything object in your life that makes you feel like this? I'd love to know . . .