Life: Fragile: Handle With Care

Long ago, a child ran up the attic stairs carrying a ceramic Christmas tree, a "homemade" but treasured memory from Grandma's house.  In spite of parental warnings about the fragility  of such "things," the artifact "disolved" into dust as the "tree" hit the floor.  Sadly, I cannot remember the words that flowed from my mouth in the moments that followed; I wish I could take whatever I probably said back.  I am sure there were some "I told you sos" interspersed with some "how could yous." 

Tonight, as an Ebayed replacement earned a spot of honor in the house, an older and wiser me assembled its pieces, I thought about the real message in this gift.  "Things" can be replaced, my heart screamed as I placed that ol' tree on top of a CFL lightbulb.  "Things" change and in the end "things" evoke memories but do not make them.

In light of the at times overwhelming sadness of the weekend and the week ahead, I am reminded that things, even lovingly restored cars and fine diamonds, are things.  It is sad when we lose them and we can shed tears of sadness; yet, they are "things." The people in our lives are a different story.  The people in our lives make unique and ever changing memories that cannot be replaced.  This tree is now a light in the darkness and a reminder of the fragility of life.