Each moment we spend together, focused on doing something kind for another, brings our family even closer. This week we spent a special evening together as a family making little messages of love written on paper hearts. The boys love to create and this time they were creating a secret gift. We discussed who we would like to give this gift to and we agreed on an elderly couple we have known for several years. The husband is home bound and has been for some time now and his wife takes care of his every need, day in and day out. They both are always so happy, so positive and so grateful for any kindness shown to them. It was unanimous; this is who would be the recipients of our heart attack.
The boys were so focused as they decorated the hearts even our three year old, who doesn’t sit still for long, was totally engrossed in the task at hand. After we had an assembly line with us each taking part to stick the kabob sticks onto the hearts. As we completed each one, my youngest would disappear, and then return. After a few disappearing acts I asked where he was going. He grabbed my hand and said, “Come see mom!” So I followed his little steps all the way to the front yard. There he had started a perfect row of hearts in our rose bed. He showed me each one tenderly and then raced back into the house to get more. He was giving our heart attack a trial run.
On Mother’s Day we took all of the hearts and drove to the Muir’s home. We prepped the boys to go quickly and quietly, in stealth mode so we wouldn’t get caught. The thrill of the moment had them bursting at the seams, except for my youngest who had fallen sound asleep on the drive. We snapped a quick picture and then got right to work. The boys covered their whole front lawn with these messages of love and then crept to the front door leaving there a gigantic heart. They rang the door bell and raced back to the car; we all jumped in and took off. We paused for a moment to see if we could watch as Mrs. Muir saw the gift we had left, but couldn’t catch a glimpse of her through the bushes. We could however, see her in our mind smiling as she scanned the sea of hearts that I am sure filled hers to over flowing.
QUESTION: What fun family traditions do you have for Mother’s Day?
CHALLENGE: Find someone in your neighborhood who needs a lift on this holiday and serve them.