MY Caring Stone

   It is no secret that I have not felt myself for some time now.  Things just do not seem to get better.  I do more puttering than work now, it seems.  There are a ton of menial, non-important chores that are being tended but I do them slowly and without much gusto.  The body says it does not want to do anything but the brain thinks differently.  So, I putter around the house and Small Gardens, once again.  Hopefully, the New Year will find me in a different mode.

  This afternoon, I was awaiting some family members to drop by so spent the time soaking up a bit of warm sunshine.  When they were no-shows, I decided that the very best I could do would be to clear the leaves from Pebble Creek (glorified drain ditch).  I was on my hands and knees when I spied the "sun" peering up at me from the gravel.  Well, now.  I found a new stone for my Caring Stone collection.  This one is for me.  I need care.  I need to think about me.  So, the stone was added to the birdbath where I could remember to care.  

  The stone has an image of the sun in the middle (if you use your imagination).  At first glance, the sun appeared to be painted onto the stone but, in reality, it is just part of the stone, itself.  That is not paint!  The "sun" is there to stay.  This made me think that, perhaps, I need sunshine in my life.  With activities being greatly curtailed, I grasp at any happiness within reach.  My Caring Stone will be a reminder of that.  Every time I peek at that sun, I will strive to find something that will bring a smile.  Come one New Year, bring some better times, please.

The "Caring Stones"

   What started as a way of sort of keeping track of the good things that happen has now escalated into an idea of keeping track of caring.  A while back I started collecting pink stones thinking that it may be a happy, little thing to do privately.  I would keep the stones in the birdbath simply because the water kept them shiny and pretty.  Eventually, the stones became a simple gift to visitors who came to the Bayou to "de-stress".  Problems were mulled over and usually just knowing someone cared meant the world of difference.  The tiny pebble was given as a token of that sincere hope that things would be better.  "Keep it in your pocket and, if times get tough, reach in and hold the stone.  You will immediately know that someone cares."  I do care.  Over the years, I have slipped many such pebbles into the hands of troubled visitors.  Many have returned to say it helped.  My heart is happy.

  Now, the habit of collecting pretty stones (not just pink) has grown to be quite large.  My pretty pebbles are still in the birdbath but, not only do they sit there waiting for someone, they each are placed with the idea of a reminder to pray, think and otherwise care about folks.  If someone needs something special, a stone is a reminder.  It is all good.  When I head to the Small Gardens, invariably, I stop at the birdbath and "count my blessings" and think of those in need.  Not that this replaces any prayers but is there to jog the idea that caring is always a good thing.

  There are no special "powers" attached to the pebbles and they are not monetarily valuable.  They are, however, priceless if these stones can remind someone that life, although hard sometimes, is good.  A dear friend (who is as close as a sister to me) dubbed the pebbles as "Caring Stones" which I think is as beautiful as it gets!  As I said before, "Pebbles or diamonds...sometimes, one is as good as the other."  Smile, folks.  Be kind to each other.  Be the kind of friend you wish you had.  Care...simply care for one another.