Its A Leaf...It Is Love

  Sometimes, you come across something that strikes a chord with you or tugs at the heartstrings for no other reason than it is there.   It is almost as if the item was specifically placed for you to find.  My hikes about the Bayou often present me with such treasures...treasures that most would pass over without a second thought but for some reason stand out as special to me.  This morning's "treasure" was nothing more than a leaf but, for some odd reason, it "spoke" to me.  (Not actually but you get the idea.)  

  Son and I were out getting more firewood early this morning.  He was running the chainsaw and I had hauling duty.  Even though toting the wood up the hill, around the side of the greenhouse and to the wood bin is tiring, I would much rather do this than the other part.  I am getting too old to be wielding the chainsaw!  It was on one of those walks with an armload of wood that I nigh on stepped onto the leaf.  Although it was noticed, the leaf did not stand out as anything miraculous until about the fourth trip past it.  Suddenly, I saw the leaf in a whole new light...literally.  The sun cast a single beam of light through the leaves of the old oak tree and brightened the leaf.  By the time I retrieved the camera from the house, the sun had moved on its merry way but the new found interest in the leaf remained.  It was gorgeous...a perfect red heart!  The leaf was photographed and toted back into the Little Bayou House.  I knew exactly what I was to do with the leaf!

  For years now, I have often given a "heart" to my sweet niece when she comes to visit.  It may be a heart-shaped stone, a leaf or flower petal but never anything bought.  Sweet Eva was coming today so I feel the leaf was placed especially for me to present to her. Yes, it seems silly but let me explain. This young lady has held a piece of my heart ever since she was a child.  She would often come stay when she was nothing more than toddler.  Now that she is grown, visits to the Bayou are special to me.  She is the type who would rather have a simple, from-the-heart gift than the most expensive present that money can buy and fully appreciates even the tiniest of gestures.  I knew when I saw the heart-shaped leaf that it was meant for Eva.  Not that a leaf, itself, was worth anything but, still, it was priceless.  The hearts that have been given to this sweet girl show that, even though the items themselves may fall the wayside (leaves whither, you know), the love this old aunt has will hold strong through whatever may come.

  Gracious as she is, Eva accepted my tiny offering with a profuse amount of gratitude.  She understands.  She knows that even though the leaf was simply plucked from the ground, that it represented the fullness of my love.  Oddly to say, she and I are kindred spirits.  We both understand.