{"id":19061,"date":"2021-02-01T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sasee.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=essay&p=19061"},"modified":"2024-03-26T15:08:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T19:08:35","slug":"the-treasured-locket","status":"publish","type":"essay","link":"https:\/\/sasee.com\/ro\/essay\/the-treasured-locket\/","title":{"rendered":"The Treasured Locket"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I pass a mirror, I see my aging face, and in my mind\u2019s eye, I see the reflection of the loved ones who presented me with each piece of jewelry over the years.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I have a decorative jewelry box filled with fine gold chains in many lengths and a drawer filled with several individual, significant, diamond-embellished charms that I received for Mother\u2019s Days, birthdays, or other holidays. If I ever decided to wear them all at one time, I would really make a statement. Strangers would know that I am the BEST, a #1 mom, friend, nana, and very loved wife. I wear the charms and chains individually at different times. When I pass a mirror, I see my aging face, and in my mind\u2019s eye, I see the reflection of the loved ones who presented me with each piece of jewelry over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s one piece of costume jewelry that means more to me than silver, gold, or diamonds. I don\u2019t even remember where I got the pendant locket which hangs at my heart level on a long, thick chain. I\u2019ll never forget why it is so important to me and increases in value as I get older. The faux gold, filigree miniature coin purse has a clasp that allows the tiny purse to open and close. I imagine that years ago, the former owner, a young lady, must have stashed a dime inside for an emergency phone call, or perhaps a grandmother sprayed a cotton ball with Evening in Paris cologne, and tucked it inside, leaving a lingering scent as she rocked a baby. I sometimes placed a penny or an M&M inside for my grandchildren to discover when they were small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madison was three years old when she reached for my locket and attached immeasurable value to that piece of \u201cjunque\u201d jewelry. Maddie was an early talker who went from one-word utterance to stringing, not sentences, but entire paragraphs. She was a verbose, smart little girl with strawberry blonde curls that bobbed when she carried on lengthy conversations. Her big blue eyes stole hearts, and she was never at a loss for words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had just returned home from a particularly exhausting day in a classroom filled with three-year-olds. I looked forward to kicking off my shoes and lying on the couch for half an hour. I opened the front door, and our bubbly little girl greeted me with a high pitched, delighted squeal. \u201cHi Nana, I\u2019ve been waiting all day with Paw-paw for you to get home from school. I couldn\u2019t wait to see you. Mama dropped me off.\u201d So, that is why I didn\u2019t know we had company. There was no car in the driveway. I smiled, but honestly, what I thought was, \u201cNot another three-year-old!\u201d What I said was, \u201cHi honey, let me put my school bag down and hug you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I sat on the couch, I wished I could have stretched out and laid my head down on my soft, powder blue throw pillow for just a moment to rejuvenate. Madison jumped up on my lap and started fondling my locket. \u201cOpen it, Nana. Open it right now. Let me see what\u2019s in your little purse necklace. Can I? Please? I know there has to be something good in there. I just know it because I know lots of things that could fit in there. Is it\u2026?\u201d She guessed every tiny thing under the sun. Overwhelmed, exhausted, and having used up almost all my patience in class, I told her, \u201cHoney, there is nothing inside today. I didn\u2019t put anything in here. You just have to believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh yes there is. I know! It could be a\u2026\u201d There she went again as she tugged at it, adding to my irritability. I reached for the stack of mail and tried to reposition her. She was insistent, and finally, I lost my last bit of patience. A little too harshly, I said, \u201cHoney, there is nothing inside the purse necklace. I already told you.\u201d Life would have been so much easier had I just walked into the kitchen and sneaked an M&M into the locket. But then if I had restocked it, the locket would not be as special to me as it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madison pushed me further over the edge. Coyly, she cocked her head and fluttered her eyelashes. Then instead of using her insistent voice, her words poured out as sweet as syrup, and she said, \u201cOh Naaanaaaa, I knooow there is something inside your little purse necklace. I\u2019m really sure. Want me to show you?\u201d Before I could protest, she said, \u201cI know you don\u2019t have an M&M, or a penny, or\u2026 \u201c She went in reverse naming all the things that couldn\u2019t be inside. I snapped. I am ashamed to admit that I had reached my boiling point. I raised my voice, flipped the latch, and flung the little purse locket wide open. \u201cI told you, honey, there is NOTHING inside. SEE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kid wouldn\u2019t quit. Very softly and sweetly, in a little sing-song voice, she said with authority, \u201cOh yes there is something inside. It\u2019s God\u2019s love. God\u2019s love is everywhere, Nana. I learned that in Sunday School.\u201d Stunned into a shamed silence, I hugged her to me and agreed 100% that she was absolutely, positively right. On my way to the kitchen, I bowed my head in shame and silently asked for forgiveness. I returned and presented our girl with an entire bag of M&Ms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it\u2019s not the silver, gold, or expensive jewels that hold the most value, but the stories attached to the particular pieces that make them priceless.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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