Little Gestures

I’m in a reflective mood this morning.  Funerals tend to do that to you don’t they.  Especially when they are for someone who passed away too quickly.

I’ve changed my profile picture on facebook to remind me of the last time I saw Angie.  She’d been in hospital after weeks of pain and discovered she had cancer and was due to start treatment.  Knowing that hospitals don’t allow flowers these days I arranged for a chef I know to make her a flower in food.  Being thoughtful and kind the chef made a jelly that would be easy to eat and contained only natural ingredients.

It made me smile and I think it made her smile too.

Now here’s the thing.  At the time, and even now, it seemed a little silly, a little strange.  It was ready for her on a glorious hot day, just like this, and I so nearly didn’t take it to her.  I worried she’d think I was a little mad.  I thought she wouldn’t want visitors and worst of all it was a ‘work’ day and should I go later.

As I sit here today I’m so glad that I went. That I spent time sitting in the garden talking with her.  That I took my little strange gift that showed I really had been thinking of her, my little gesture of caring.

So the lesson I have learnt is to put my ego aside.  Not to worry how silly I may look or feel, not to let life and doubt get in the way.  If I think of some small gesture I can make to show someone that they are cared for and thought about then I’ll go ahead and do it.  Too often we leave it until it is too late.  No more please, no more.   Let’s make the time for the connections and actions that really matter and share them while we can.