Friends
Valentine’s Day draws near. It’s a time when we celebrate the beautiful gift of love. Today, I share a sweet story plucked from my memory bank, a story of a little boy’s love for his mother.
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“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2 – NIV
It was a red-letter day, the day of my son Jonathan’s first year-round swim meet. He had participated in summer league swimming for several years, but today, six-year-old Jonathan would make his swimming debut with his new year-round swim team.
He woke up full of energy, his tiny frame bouncing with a contagious bubble of joy. His big brown eyes were dancing with excitement, not just about the pending swim meet, but also for another reason. It was my birthday, and he remembered it, greeting me with a joy-filled “Happy birthday, Mama!” I smiled broadly, touched by his recollection.
Knowing that we would be tied up at the swim meet most of the day, we hadn’t made any big birthday plans,. My best friend Tami had invited us to stop by her church’s harvest festival, and we decided to grab an early lunch there before heading out of town.
Tami’s daughter Linsey was waiting for Jonathan when we arrived, and the two best buddies trotted off to check out the craft and bake sale items. There would be a fund-raising auction later that evening, and church members had donated a variety of items to sell. Tami’s entire family were milling about, and Eric and I enjoyed catching up with everyone over lunch.
As we stood to leave, Jonathan tugged on his father’s hand in hopes of re-visiting the bazaar booths., but it was time to go. “But can we come back for the auction tonight?” He persisted.
Leading him out the door, I responded with a shrug. “I don’t know, buddy. We will have to see.”
“But we gotta come back!” Ignoring his protests, Eric and I hurried him toward the car. Shifting the conversation to the upcoming swim meet, Jonathan soon forgot all about the harvest festival, or so we thought.
The crowded natatorium was overwhelming for all three of us, kids running here and there, the noise at a deafening level. We soon found his teammates, and Jonathan blended right into the group. There were only three other boys participating from his team , and the three 12-year-olds kindly took Jonathan under their wing.
Jonathan sped through his individual races with gusto, while Eric and I cheered him on from the pool deck, our faces beaming with excitement. After his final race, we thought he was finished for the day, but Jonathan came running up to say, “I’m in the relay!”
Confused about his claim, we sought out the coach. “Is he really in the 12 & under relay?” Eric queried
“Yep!” The coach nodded with a chuckle. “He’s my only other boy. It’s a 12 & under relay, and he’s under 12. Without him, we don’t have a boy’s relay.”
Jonathan didn’t even know how to do a flip-turn, but it didn’t matter. He was beaming when he exited the pool, and his grin only magnified when the older boys paused to give him a high-five. It was indeed a red-letter day, and the three of us were positively jubilant, even if a little tired, as we climbed into the car, headed for home.
Pulling out of the parking lot,Eric asked, “What do we have at home for supper?”
Jonathan immediately piped up from the back seat, “But Daddy, we have to go back to the harvest festival!”
I knew by the weary look on Eric’s face that he was more than ready for his recliner. “No, son, we’ve had a big day, but I think it’s time to head home.”
Here came the tears. “But Daddy, we have to go back.”
Eric and I looked at each other in surprise. Jonathan wasn’t typically a whiner, so this little outburst seemed out of character.
Mom to the rescue. “Hey buddy, what’s wrong? It’s OK. Daddy’s just tired, and we went to the festival this morning.”
“But we have to go back. It’s your birthday!”
“Oh, buddy! That’s sweet, but I’m fine with going home.”
More tears. “No! We have to go back! I have to go get your birthday present!”
Eric spoke up, “what are you talking about, buddy?”
“I found this present for Mom, and the lady is saving it, and I told her I would come back and get it! We have to go back! It’s Mama’s birthday!”
Eric looked in the rear view mirror at his son’s tear-stained face for a long moment. Glancing at me with wide eyes, he shrugged, a little smile playing on his lips. Turning the car in the direction of the harvest festival, he replied, “OK, buddy, we can do that.”
There was joy dancing in my son’s big brown eyes when he came bouncing back from the bazaar booths with his birthday surprise. Opening the box, I found a tall black oriental vase adorned with gold trim and a floral motif. “See, Mama, it matches your things!”
I smiled brightly, tears welling in my eyes. It did match my oriental decorations in the living room, and I was so impressed that he had even noticed. I hugged him tightly, savoring the sweetness of him. “I love it, buddy. You did good!”
That simple black vase still holds a prominent place in my home, just as this precious memory holds a tender spot in my heart. That vase is beautiful to me, not because it was expensive or extravagant, but because of the love I saw in my son’s eyes that day. He wanted to make my birthday special, and his heartfelt gift made it a red-letter day that I have never forgotten.
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“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 – NIV
PRAYER
O Lord God, thank You for the gift of love. Thank You for the love of our families, our friends, our spouses, and our precious children. Remind us to treasure the love we receive and offer our love with open arms. Thank You for Jesus whose sacrificial love delivered the greatest gift of all.
In the Loving Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
-APS 2-10-2025
Faith Beyond Sight 