Walking in the Valley A bi-weekly column, featuring one Christian's (a)musings on life's journey by Barbara Dahlgren

Priceless Treasures Column for the weeks of May 1-15, 2006

archives |

printer-friendly version

When we had our first child my father-in-law gave me a poem which he lovingly hand wrote as a keepsake. It was by that famous author, Anonymous. I memorized the first two lines.

“Some have silver and some have gold,
But you have a child in your arms to hold.”

Each stanza describes those who have land, power, riches, pride, or fame. But how can those things compare to a child’s smile, embrace, foot steps, first words, or kiss? That poem has provided me with an inner compass over the years to keep life in perspective.

Who hasn’t longed for a better life or to taste the exotic fruit money can buy? Having traveled a bit, I’ve been dazzled by Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Monet’s Water Lilies, and Whistler’s Portrait of the Painter’s Mother. I’ve marveled at Michelangelo’s Statue of David, the Greek Venus de Milo, and Rodin’s The Thinker. I’ve been a guest in homes so lavish and pristine you were afraid to breathe, much less sit down. And I can say without hesitation that none of these can compare to my own assortment of priceless treasures.

My cherished collection includes but is not limited to the following:

1. Carnations made out of pink Kleenex tissues

2. A hanging wall letter holder made from paper plates

3. Popsicle framed pictures

4. A teabag taped to a picture of a teapot

5. A jewelry box made from macaroni glued to a cigar box and spray painted gold

6. Abstract (and I do mean abstract) works of art

7. Family collages of pictures pasted on construction paper

8. Hand made greeting cards with original poems beginning with “Roses are red and violets are blue”

9. Seedlings planted in small paper cups

10. Awards with “World’s Greatest Mom” written in crayon

11. Colorful potholders made from material scraps

12. A cutting board made in shop class

13. Jewelry made from pipe cleaners

14. Message holders made from clothespins

15. Paper weights made from painted rocks

16. Plaster of Paris foot prints

17. Coupons that say, “I will take out the trash” or “I will clean my room.”

18. Card board place mats

19. A child’s handprint accompanied by a poem about children leaving fingerprints
every where in a home (my personal favorite)*

It’s taken years to acquire these treasures. And as priceless as they are, more priceless still was the look on three eager, little faces as they gave them to me each year on Mother’s Day. Those precious, smiling faces were anxiously waiting for my look of approval, my affectionate hug, my appreciative kiss, and the twinkle in my eye that said, “You done good, kid! I love this gift! And I love you more than you will ever know.”

“What matter then if wealth we miss?
For what is gold compared to this?”

A Child’s Handprints

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls
But every day I'm growing --
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away
So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small

Be sure to visit this page often to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.