The gift that keeps on giving

I have heard this phrase my whole life.  I think I understand it better today than I ever have in the past.

We recently tore down the mobile home we have had for about 35 years.  It was time.  Since we are living in Knoxville, I had double of some items like sheets and pillow cases.  I had a pillow case in Knoxville that didn’t have a mate.  I hated it because I really like the pillow case.  I just assumed the guys had left it somewhere in all their travels.  When I packed up our tailer stuff, I found the mate!  I brought it home and told Tommy I was glad I had found it and why.

Many years ago I taught music in a school that still had all 8 grades.  Since I taught every student in the school, I really “racked up” at Christmas.  I always went home with a haul.  Most teachers only got gifts from their one class.  I got them from 3 classes per grade…8 grades!  It took me several trips to my car when I went home for Christmas break.

Every now and then, I would get a present that the student, or the student’s parent, had put some time and effort into.  The pillow cases are one example.  They were hand made and carefully and beautifully stitched.  I have carried those pillow cases through moves too numerous to mention.  They have withstood who knows how many washings.  I wonder just how many heads have laid down upon them.  I like to think they lulled some to sleep smelling of the out of doors where I always used to dry my pillow cases and sheets.  

Tommy asked me if I remembered the student, but sadly, after 53 years, I do not.  I wish though, that somewhere out there, a Mother might read this, and remember sitting up at night carefully  cross-stitching a set of pillow cases for Miss Combs.  I would like to think she remembered that I loved her child and tried to teach him or her to love music as much as I did, and do.

I expect these pillow cases will be here long after I am gone.  I hope that the next person who puts them on a bed will look at them and appreciate the effort that went into making them.  It makes me want to put more thought into gifts I give.