What could a stem of cotton teach a woman? Why does it sit in a crystal vase? Perhaps it’s a great reminder of where I have come from, what really matters, and where I am going. Let me explain ....
Let me start by saying I had a great childhood, never wanted for material things or love or attention. I had awesome parents. My father had a 7th grade education and my mother had a 3rd grade education. They are both from the south and both knew what it meant to work hard with your hands - even picking cotton. Ours was a simple life. I tell you this, so you understand that we kids were never pushed in school. We weren't helped with our homework and the talk of college was never mentioned. So with this mentality, college was not something I thought about or desired to obtain. Instead I wanted a job so I could buy myself a car, more clothes than I was used to, and lots of shoes. (What woman does not think of shoes?)
After I graduated from High School I got a job and either bought or saved for the things I desired. I was raised in Richmond, Calif. and knew I was destined to marry, live in Richmond, and work the rest of my life.
Well, to make a long story short, I did live in Richmond till I met a man that swept me off my feet. He was 10 years older than me, had gone to college, was very intelligent, had goals and made an unbelievable income. After a year of dating we married, had a beautiful home, 2 beautiful children (don't we all think our kids are beautiful and wonderful?) and all the material things a woman could possibly want or desire. I never had to work - I was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom.
After my kids grew up and moved on, I found that I still had my material things, including a beautiful dream home. However that very large home was empty, sad, and lonely - just like me. I stayed in that large, lonely, empty house for years until one day I decided it was time for me to leave. I don't want to get into the end of my marriage because it is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about the material things I had, which were in abundance. So many women searching for their security get caught up in all these material things - their nice cars, clothing with labels, collections of crystal, and the list goes on. Ladies, these luxuries don’t give you security or add meaning to your life.
I walked away from the emptiness and the material things - now I have lived on my own now for 5 years and have never been happier. I don't have the money I use to, I don't go on the trips I use to, and I don't have the huge home - but my home is no longer lonely. My home is now a happy place, filled with smiles and laughter. I do still have my beautiful pieces of crystal that I enjoy to this day. I am surrounded by wonderful things that I have had for years, but one of the things I enjoy the most is the one that symbolizes so much - a real twig of cotton from a cotton plant. I have it in a crystal vase.
It reminds me of who I am and where I came from. It reminds me of my wonderful parents that are no longer with me. You see they met each other in a cotton field many, many years ago. They didn’t live a life surrounded with things, but they were married for 53 years. I always thought I would be married till death do you part as well. Sometimes our dreams don't finish as we thought or planned they would. Sometimes they take a side road that can be scary and dark, but eventually they can bring us back to a crystal vase with a piece of cotton. We can rediscover the wonderful light and even find the piece of ourselves that somehow got lost along the way. I think we all need the contentment of cotton and the joy of a little crystal around each of us!
LJ
Very nice story...enjoyed it!
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