"Because My Grandma LOVES Them!"

 

I live on an acre, out in the country, in Michigan, in the farmhouse my grandparents built back in the 1920's. In my front and side yard are five very large maple trees. In my back yard, behind the double-stall garage is the most enormous maple tree I've ever seen - it reaches far above the roof of the garage and spans beyond the sides of the garage - on both sides! It is absolutely enormous! We also have one very, very tall sycamore tree, three birch trees and several other trees - including about a dozen pine trees.

These trees provide wonderful shade for my house and yard throughout the summer and are just beautiful as their leaves change colors in the fall - lots of bright yellows, some oranges, and a truly incredible red! 

They also have millions . . . yes millions of leaves (my husband is VERY thankful for his tractor and leaf bagger!!!)

So, why do I mention all these trees and leaves? Because a few years ago my then five year old grand, was absolutely CONVINCED their grandma (me) loved leaves. Wait. Did I say, "loved"? I would more accurately have reflected their opinion to have said; "LOVED!!!" Since they LOVED their grandma (me) and they were certain I LOVED leaves, they often came running into my house holding a leaf . . . and since it was Spring, and the leaves which had fallen off the trees the previous Fall and the few which had managed to miss being cleared away were now showing up since the snow melted, there were a few leaves for them to bring to me! One day my husband (his Poppa) asked why they were bringing me a leaf, and they said; "Because my grandma LOVES them!"

Why was this dear grand so convinced I loved, LOVED leaves? Did I really? Well, no. I did not LOVE or even love leaves, but I absolutely LOVED this amazing child! I LOVED, with no end, being able to see their face light up, eyes twinkle, and a smile which reached from one side of their sweet face to the other when they ran into my house with a leaf in their hands. I LOVED being able to hug them and say, "Thank you!!!" with heart-felt sincerity, for this gift of love to me. My grand saw my smile, felt my hug, heard me say; "Thank you!!!!", and was happy - and was more CONVINCED their grandma (me) LOVED leaves . . . it is really this incredibly sweet person who I LOVE . . . without a doubt! It is their sweet heart of wanting to give to their grandma (me) something they believed I valued and in so doing they were giving me what is most valuable to me . . . them and their love for me!

Spring is here once again. The grass is starting to green, flowers are blooming, and it won't be long before the trees are covered in leaves once again, so we have a few leaves here or there from last Fall, now my grands are too old to continue to bring me leaves. However, when I look at them I remember those tangible expressions of a sweet five-year-old's love for their grandma (me) and I feel most blessed!