Last
Christmas I opened one of my packages from Jerry and found these inside:
Two
Christmas themed handkerchiefs he saw me admiring in a gift store. He went back
and bought them for me―a sweet gesture.
I
love vintage handkerchiefs and ones that appear vintage. I have a whole box
I’ve collected over the years, many with handmade lace.
One
of them inspired the handkerchief noted in this excerpt of The Key to Everything.
“Harriet
eased from the exam table and gave Genny a hug.
'Hurting people hurt people. But first things, first, honey.’ Harriet took a lace-edged handkerchief from her pocket and offered it to Genny.
'Hurting people hurt people. But first things, first, honey.’ Harriet took a lace-edged handkerchief from her pocket and offered it to Genny.
Genny stared at it a moment, the
lace appearing to have been handmade. It was almost too beautiful to use, but
she dabbed her eyes anyway not wanting to reject Harriet’s offer.
Harriet fixed her gaze right on her.
‘Remember what I said about the legacy. You think about what your grandmother
went through.’
Genny nodded. It was a lot to
forgive . . .”
You’ll
have to read the book to learn what Genny found a lot to forgive.
But
as for the handkerchief, it sends me back to another time, when time and love
went into the crafting of them. They often found their way into the hands of a
bride, a special purse, or brought comfort in drying a tear.
For
many years, my husband would hand out his handkerchief at the altar when
praying with someone. Many later confessed they kept the handkerchiefs. One
woman who flew home to be with a sick relative took it with her on the trip.
There were so many stories like this.
After
my dad died, I was going through a coat of his and found one of his
handkerchiefs. I cried when I found it and consider it one of my most precious
possessions.
The
Christmas handkerchief with bells is on my desk. Of course, this blog is called
One Ringing Bell, and when I see that handkerchief, I’m reminded to ring out
the good news in my writing.
So
here I am doing just that, ringing those Christmas bells, and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace . . . " (Luke 2:14). And I’m praying you, my friends, would both give and receive gifts this
Christmas that bear God’s comforting power and speak of His love.
