I had the occasion this New Years day morning to take notice of a piece of cross-stitched artwork. This simple treasure hangs in a place of honor in my kitchen. The inscription is a simple poem, there is no author or citation, only three initials at the bottom. The poem reads:
“There is no friend like an old friend
Who has shared our morning days,
No greeting like his welcome,
No homage like his praise
Same as a scentless sunflower
With gaudy crown of gold,
But friendship is the breeding rose
With sweet in every fold.”
The three initials at the bottom are those of my grandmother and this small bit of cloth sits behind the glass of a simple wooden frame. It hangs in the same place in my home as it hung in hers so many, many years ago. It hangs in a place that ensures everyone who enters my home sees it.
Grandma is gone now, the victim of one of the diseases that takes away grandmas and grandpas. But grandmas and grandpas have a way of leaving us little messages, little reminders that no illness can take away, no amount of time can silence.
It is through these small reminders that we relive the sweetness of their company and the wisdom of their years. It is through these gentle proddings that they continue to remind us what is truly important in life and how best to enjoy the time we have with our friends, our family and our grandchildren.
On this New Years day morning, as we all reflect on resolutions and goals, I find myself drawn to this simple bit of cloth and my grandmother’s wisdom. I have decided to make 2007 The Year of Resilience. A year of promoting resilience and the skills needed to create resilience in myself, my family, my colleagues and my clients.
I invite you to join me in making 2007 The Year of Resilience.
Happy New Year!
