Electric blue gleams when I pull down the green box door.
It’s addressed to me.
What on earth?
I recognize the return label.
I know her own heart has been aching lately, and she thinks of me?
Again?
I think about doing things like this.
But my hands don’t always follow my head or my heart.
“You know,” she writes, “some days just call for warm socks and chocolate, and I thought this might just be one of these days.”
She’s so right.
I’ve been thinking about this grumpy grief thing.
And how I’ve kind of been living grief upon grief of one sort or another for years.
I stare at the envelope design and note how seven circles seem to make a flower and how all the flowers connect to make the whole.
I stroke the shiny and pop some bubbles, crackle the wrap.
I think how we crack ourselves open in this online space.
Sometimes spill runny and other times pop bright.
Share our brokenness.
It seems safer here somehow–even in this land littered with unknowns.
We drink each other’s words and hearts and somehow He knits souls, weaves ragged edges into exquisite tapestries.
We know and are known.
And we lean into each other, wrap love around each other.
Become family.
Build community.
I shiver a little as I dig into the package because didn’t she, just today, write about socks?
About coming skin to skin into His presence?
Uncovered and vulnerable?
Bunions and chipped polish exposed?
(Okay, so I don’t know if SHE has bunions, but I’m pretty sure there’s no chipped polish.)
These are my kind of winter-season-grumpy-grief-pensive-heart kind of socks.
Tall and soft and fleecy.
I sink my feet into both and decide to wear pink.
I pour a cup of rubber-duck-steeped tea, savor a dark chocolate York pattie, and contemplate the sweetness of sock sisters.
And I give thanks for them.
Bonnie’s prompt today is “vulnerable love.”
Also joining Kimberly in community.
And gathering around Deb’s table.
American Christian
Fiction Writers
Felt the ping of your pang and slid on over my stocking feet.
You are the perfect picture of a stripy-footed rock star, my friend.
Love. You.
Lyla Lindquist recently posted..Why Socks Matter
The ping of my pang–or the pain of my ping?
Love. You. More.
And no, no chipped polish over here.
Lyla Lindquist recently posted..Why Socks Matter
Somehow I knew that.
Love the socks! I almost put on my red and white striped ones today. I will think of you and pray for you every time I put them on! Such a precious friend you have. Loved this!
Lynn Mosher recently posted..The Journey Chapter 2
Friends. You’re one.
So many on my heart when I put on my socks.
Love this kind of friendship. It stepped out of the on-line community and travelled to your real life house. You are a blessed woman!
Shelly Miller recently posted..Just for Today: It’s Enough
Stepped out and travelled. Love how that happens. Blessed. Yes.
I want to be the kind of lady that does that sort of thing! I really do! Thank you for linking up with Painting Prose.
kd sullivan recently posted..Apparently, I Have A New Occupation! – Painting Prose Community
Me, too. More than just thinking about it.
Warm sock and chocolate from one warm heart to another.
Grief sometimes comes in waves that wash over us. They say it often comes in threes! I am reminded of the Gospel Hymn “It is well with my soul, when the sea billows roll”
Hazel Moon recently posted..Insider Information
Amen to that, Hazel. He walks those waves.
Pink socks and peppermint patties. And bubble wrap, too? This is the heart of a true friend, here.
Sheila Lagrand recently posted..The Image is from Inside
And bubble wrap, too!
I’m not sure what more one could ask for…
Sheila Lagrand recently posted..The Haircut
So beautiful, so thoughtful. I have those kind of thoughts too, but they don’t usually make it out the door, and certainly not to the post office.
But when I’m on the receiving end, I recommit to doing it for others because I love being loved.
Even with my bunions. Yes, I have them.
Lisa notes recently posted..Coming clean
Bunion sisters!
Time flies so fast from my thought to never doing it…
This just made my heart sing! And its my favorite part of this beautiful community. Love Shelly’s words: “Love this kind of friendship. It stepped out of the on-line community and travelled to your real life house.” Thank you, sweet Sandy! Love You!!
Cindee Snider Re recently posted..Like Grace
Thank YOU, my friend. You make MY heart sing.
It is a wonder – this beautiful community of linked hearts. Isn’t it lovely what sending love in the form of comfy socks and delicious chocolate can do?
I love visiting here Sandy.
Linda recently posted..Worship
It’s amazing. It boggles my mind that we think of each other even when we’re hundreds and thousands of miles apart. And then there are those we’ve spent face time with. Love having spent those days with you.
how special – i just love this post!!!
Charissa Steyn recently posted..strapping on my boots!
Those are so soxy ; ) Love you Sandy! You are in my prayers on this beautiful sunny, soxy day. Hopefully, we get to see each other in GR in April?! Wouldn’t that be grand… again. =)
Patricia recently posted..An Anniversary
Grand in Grand! But waiting until April?
“The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow upon him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?”
~ Henry David Thoreau
(one of my favorite quotes)
Blessings.
Simply Darlene recently posted..A ? 4 U
Love that quote, Darlene! Simply. Friends.
My feet feel warmer already.
(By the way, I think striped socks are fabulous!
Thank you for your recent comment. It meant a lot to me. Community indeed.
Monica Sharman recently posted..What It Feels Like
What an amazing friend. Lovely looking socks, too. But hey, I’d take the chocolate first.
Cozy socks + rich chocolate = double blessed.
Sock. Sisters. Rock.
That’s. The. Truth.