love and giving
Sunday, May 30, 2010 by Guest Shutter Sister
Several christmases ago, my daughter learned to give. I caught her one day, wrapping tiny found objects to give to all her school friends. Any little thing that caught her eye was snatched up and lovingly wrapped with scraps of tissue paper and dirty bits of scotch tape. This included the cracked half of a pink plastic bead she found on the floor at the thrift store, the arm of a barbie, half of a pencil eraser. I didn't have the heart to tell her that her classmates might not see the beauty in these things. And while I was thrilled to see her focus on giving, I was crazy nervous about the kind of reactions her school friends might have. What if they laughed? What if they totally rejected her gifts? I could not stand the thought. I remember the morning she took them to school. How she stood in the doorway, little red packages cupped in her hands. She held them as if they were jewels, her eyes shone with pride. She couldn't wait to get to school and give them out. I looked at the mess of packages just then, each one clumsily taped together and my heart broke a little. I prayed that her friends would somehow see the love behind each gift. I prayed really really hard. On the way home from school that day, she told me she had given out all her presents. Then she looked out the window and said nothing else. Of course, this worried me but I did not pry. A few days later, we had lunch with her at school to celebrate the grand opening of the new cafeteria. As we sat eating macaroni and cheese and fruit cocktail, a little boy eyed me from across the table. He was working up the courage to say something, I could feel it. And then finally: "Ava gave ME a present." The happy came pouring out of him then and he smiled. Ava smiled too-- a smile as wide and as open as the whole of the sun. Image and words by Andrea Jenkins or as she's lovingly known in many circles, Hula. We are thrilled that she is helping celebrate Giveaway May by giving one lucky reader a copy of her poloroid print Love Always Wins. Swoon. Just leave a comment here between now and Monday at midnight. Congrats to Jen at Cabin Fever for winning the print. YAY!
Reader Comments (89)
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I think this photo is a gentle reminder of all the good in the world...and which one of us couldn't stand to be reminded of the power found in love each an every day? Thanks for this; it's awe-inspiring.
Your site is a constant source of inspiration for budding photographers. Thank you.
-K
I can remember my son bringing a torn picture home from school when he was about six. The little girl who had drawn it was very upset because someone had ripped it - my son brought it home to repair it for her and took it to school the next day, stuck together. They're both seventeen now and I suspect that she still remembers that.
Really lovely.