Just before Thanksgiving, when still in the food shopping, preparation and house cleaning mode, I wrote about being drawn to the special drawer where I still keep many of my late mother-in-law’s special things. This drawer is the bottom right drawer of a white wicker 7-drawer bureau that belonged to Flo. Barry and I bought the wicker bedroom set for Flo when she moved into her senior housing apartment a few years before she passed. She loved her wicker set and said that each time she walked into her bedroom she felt “like a new bride.” Flo loved the femininity of it all…
Barry and I brought the wicker set back to our home where it gives a beautiful glow to our spare bedroom. There’s the headboard. The deep hutch-style piece. And, of course, the bureau with the bottom right drawer. In that drawer is Flo’s costume jewelry. Little purses. Scarves that still smell like Flo. And that’s where I found the little church steeple with the little bell…
Thanksgiving dinner was warm and wonderful. Barry and I had my Mom, Keith’s family, Barry’s brother Rick and his family… and a dear family friend, Gemma. Gemma started out as Rick’s friend many years ago, but quickly became a Couto friend. Gemma is a gifted wordsmith, a gifted presence and a gift of a friend.
And on this past Thanksgiving Day, Gemma brought a gift. Gemma brought a heavenly gift…
Gemma, with heavenly thoughtfulness of spirit, found a beautiful white church. A white Christmas church with white garland and white trees and a white angelic glow to it. A white church with a lovely white cross, a removable white cross that thoughtfully obliges a very old steeple with its little silver bell…
And attached to the beautiful white church is a delicate white card with the words of a wordsmith: “Flo asked me to give this to you… until you find hers!”
I think the new white church is a perfect fit… a perfect fit of joy, friendship, love and a spirit of giving that can only be defined as heavenly!
This new white church is a gift that I will treasure for all eternity…
Isn’t it amazing how friends know JUST what you need? What a beautiful, kind soul Gemma has.
I love the name “Gemma” . This story gave me goosebumps.
Gooesbumps like Rhonda, then tears. Your Gemma must be a wonderful woman and I’m sure Flo was smiling.
Kismet.
The perfect gift for the perfect friend.
I’m sure Flo is smiling down on all of you, the giver and the giftees, including Flo.
Wow – that is just lovely.
Oh, what a beautiful post! Sharon, your posts always touch my heart. Lovely.