“Here, Mom! I picked this for you. I saw the heart shaped leaves, and it made me think of how much I love you.”

“This is for you, mom.”

“Mom, look what I found! I thought it would look nice next to your other stuff.”

I am submersed in the years of handpicked tokens of love. Each one finds its way to me; usually with a bit of dirt, more often than not accompanied by a hug and always bestowed with a heart of gold. A passerby may easily mistake my countertop treasure trove for a mini junk pile. But come, don’t be shy; look closer and see for yourself. That half of a dandelion survived its trek across the yard in the mighty grasp of a beaming toddler. You’ll spot a tiny, smooth pebble in the shape of a bicycle seat. (How such a wee thing was spotted while scampering about is beyond me.) The sparrow feather, dried cricket and rusty bolt brightened my day when delivered by a dusty, adventurous little boy. Affection is felt in those small bouquets of weeds and wildflowers artfully paired together. Oh, you’ve spotted that flower? That teeny flower caught one of the girl’s attention while playing and was gently cradled in her palm before being deposited in my lap; flower, stem, leaves, roots and all. And don’t overlook that stick lying in the heap. It possesses that “extra stick-y” appeal and was gifted with a load of love to serve as a multipurpose thingamajig.

My stash of goods sits on any given surface for a day or two before reaching the sorting phase. There are things that need tossing, some are recycled back out into the yard…. possibly for regifting…. while a few select pieces are fashioned into decor to be cherished for quite some time.

Their sweet words and handpicked treasures are just the balm this mama’s heart needs and mean the world to me. Those dear little souls are taking a couple seconds of their day to gift me the best they can in the moment. These little tidbits that are an expression of their desire to give merely to please or to confirm their love. They are giving me things they find fascinating, things they know I’ll enjoy. Trifles that they trust I’ll “do something with.” And they do it with such straightforward simplicity and love. How could I ever be displeased by any it?

And I believe that’s exactly how our Blessed Mother is with us. We are her children. She is a mother who can love, care and appreciate in a way we can’t even imagine for ourselves. She knows we aren’t perfect. She realizes our frailty and vulnerability. She knows that on our own we don’t have that much to work with. Nothing makes her happier than when we come to her with that straightforward, loving simplicity and lay whatever it is we have in that moment in her lap.

“Here, Mother, this is for you. I love you.”

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. What a perfect time to give her everything. Our past that we cannot change. Our day that is so uncertain. Our intentions and resolutions that are standing on a shaky leg. Our prayers and rosaries that may be a bit smudged with distraction. Our fears and hopes that we can’t control. She will treasure every bit. She will be our strength, hope and joy amidst it all as she polishes and fashions our meager, unworthy offerings into something beautiful and lays them in the Sacred Heart of her Son.