One of the nice things about having friends is that, occasionally, when you walk through their doors they reward you with something amazing and totally unexpected, like this gorgeous loaf of whole wheat bread. It was still warm and the aromas that rose from the crust were amazing. It will definitely be the centerpiece of our dinner tonight and, hopefully, tomorrow's breakfast. It made me stop for a moment to think about the nature of gifts. How two people can give you the same gift, and yet, depending on the emotion behind the gift, they can affect you in different ways. I laid the loaf on a table beside a a bouquet of tulips that were brought to Easter dinner and seeing the two gifts together made me feel warm inside. It reinforced why it's nice to be back in PA, where we have friends and family who are happy that we are here. We have also received welcome gifts from some of the neighbors. They truly made us feel welcome because there was no obligation for them to do it. They simply wanted to be friendly. Small gestures can make a big difference in someone's life. It's hard sometimes, to reach out, but you simply have to remember the times when someone reached out to you, exactly at the moment you needed them, to find the courage to stretch out your hand or offer a small gift to someone else.
Years Past
April 6, 2006
April 6, 2005
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