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Chocolates.   Flowers.
Dinner.   Special gift.

What gifts did you get this Valentine’s weekend?  Aside from chocolates, I enjoyed a long peaceful weekend as Monday for us in Ontario Canada is Family Day.     All these special days are too commercialized for me as any day can be Valentine’s Day or Family Day, don’t you agree?

A bouquet of flowers or prepared dinner are more meaningful to me when it is unexpected.  Then an ordinary day becomes extra special, a private celebration to be remembered years after.

When my daughter was younger, she would cut, paint, fold & make greeting cards (Valentine, birthday & Christmas) for all of us.   No virtual greeting card can equal the handwritten love notes from the child or family member.   When my family comes together on a Sunday afternoon, we would prepare home cooked dishes.   Now that my children are older, I treasure the family time we have.   On the other hand, I have more time to pursue my other interests – writing and arts.

There is also another kind of gift.   Consider this poem from well-known poet, Mary Oliver:

The Uses of Sorrow

Someone I loved once gave me

a box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand

that this, too, is a gift.

(by Mary Oliver, from Thirst, Beacon Press, Boston, 2006)

What for you turned out to be a gift?  Feel free to share in the comments below. Or just say hello to your fellow writers.  This community is a gift to us all.

Welcome to OpenLinkNight, everyone.   This is Grace hosting for today’s sharing of our words.  Are you ready to give away & receive the gift of words ?

If you are new here, let me tell you how it works:

  • Write a poem and post it to your webpage.
  • Click on the Mr. Linky button below and enter your name and direct url/web address to your poem
  • There you will also find the list of those participating this week. You might want to refresh this occasionally or check back in as there are people joining over the next 33 hours.
  • Read other poets that have linked. Let them know what you thought, how the poem moved you, what you think of their style, what caught your attention.   Please don’t forget to return the favor of those who have visited and commented on your work.
  • Encourage others to participate through social media, promote your own piece and others.
  • Have fun meeting and engaging your fellow poets.

Happy Tuesday to everyone ~  Grace