I was blessed with a week in which I had nothing demanding my energy.
So I mostly slept.
I fell asleep in the crowds of family and stranger a like. If there was a bench or a couch or a piece of ground, I laid down. And when I awoke, life said, "I have something for you."
My family and I went to visit a family we'd never met before. I did my best to stay awake and visit for a little while. The children took us on a tour of their woods in the dark. I wore flip-flops and scratched my feet and legs. But grogginess kept me from feeling it all that much. A young boy said, "There's a deep ditch here. Let me help you." He offered a strong hand and I felt rejuvenated by his act of kindness.
We saw fireflies. I laughed. And then I slept.
The next day, as everyone was busy chatting, and I was once more too exhausted to stand, I fell to my knees amidst a bed of clover.
"I've never found a four-leaf clover," I thought to myself. "But now I shall."
After ten minutes I grew tired and gave up, rising from the ground. I walked a little ways, then thought, "What have I given up for? There is nothing else calling me?"
I sat back down. This time by a smaller patch that looked rather wonky.
And there, immediately, I found four little four-leaf clovers right beside one another. I knew if I kept looking I'd find more. But what needed I with more? Leave some to grow, some to be found by others. Not all luck is meant to be mine.
I jumped up shouting, "I have found FOUR four-leaf clovers."
I showed them off.
Someone said, "Is that supposed to mean something?"
I'm not superstitious. Perhaps I just delight in superstitious things? But I couldn't ruin the moment by having them argue with me about how silly this might be. So I said, "No. They mean nothing."
Ah. But they meant everything. They were the highlight of that day. They were my buried treasure.
It was as if I finally understood something about luck. It happens to those... who patiently persist. You want a blessing? Look for one and grab it and rejoice over it.
Lucky clovers don't fall from the sky. You must fall to your knees and humbly believe and search.
I found three 4-leaf clovers in one spot while nannying last spring. I took them home in water so the girls and I could press them...and their dad threw them away. He thought they were the toddler's "flowers" (weeds). I was upset and went back to that spot and found one more.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet you found another! How awful he'd throw them away. That is just so sad ;/
DeleteI put these four in my journal and realized recently that one is missing ;/ So now I have three
I really like this post, so much thought and wisdom here! My favorite part is the beginning where you talk about finally having the opportunity to rest after a lot of work, and how you leaned into that instead of trying to force yourself to be busy and fill the schedule. And then the line "And when I awoke, life said, "I have something for you."" Sometimes, you do have to persist and to search, like you did for the clovers. But sometimes when you have done your work, and you rest, life offers you a gift in that too.
ReplyDeleteAlexa
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I love your thoughtful comment! And love all the little gifts life has been offering these days :D
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