I forgot the rocks. Twice.
If you have been following me for a bit, you know that my sons request rocks when I travel. It is such a simple ask, such a simple promise to make.
And I forgot. Twice.
The first time, I was honest. I thought perhaps since they didn’t exactly ask for rocks, they wouldn’t remember. I was wrong. They asked immediately, and I honestly told them “I’m sorry boys. I thought about it. There were these really cool rocks at the retreat center. But as we were leaving, I just forgot to grab them. Luckily, I’m going somewhere next week and I promise… I will not forget.”
Must learn not to make promises.
I didn’t remember this time until we were almost to the airport, and it was too late. I thought about it several times as the plane made the short trip from Kansas to Dallas. I debated just being honest again or making a last minute trip to Walmart when I landed.
I was so tired. I just wanted to pick up the boys and go home, but I kept imagining the faces I’d see if I forgot a second time. So I drove to Walmart rationalizing that Kansas has Walmarts too. It took me 20 minutes of searching before I found a box of decorative rocks. I bought them and went to pick up my boys, hiding the canister in my luggage.
The first question my oldest asked was “Mommy, did you bring me a rock?”
The rocks made it into all three boys grateful moments for the day, and this morning my son declared that I had managed to find a fossilized Pokemon in one of the rocks.
I know they may read this some day and realize that mommy didn’t get those cool tiger-striped rocks from Kansas, but I hope what they see is that I loved them enough to not disappoint them twice.
I love their love of rocks, a simple pebble or a tiger-striped stone that can spur their imaginations. St. Teresa of Avila said, “It is love alone that gives worth to all things.” Even rocks.
What simple act can you do with love today?
