It was just a small thing
My niece in me in 2012, around the time she picked the flowers for me.
2012
I was already running late.
Arriving to take my four-year-old niece to daycare, I gave a big sigh upon realizing that she wasn’t ready. I had to get to work, so I tried my best to rush her along.
What I learned that day is that four-year-olds do not care when you’re running late. They don’t understand the clock, which makes them have not a care in the world about schedules.
Cursing silently while also trying to be cheerful and hastily loving, I got her dressed. Just getting both shoes on and tied took four hours. Getting her to brush her teeth took another two.
She was chattering and singing and playing and dawdling and being sweet. I had to force myself to not put both hands on her little back and shove her from one chore to another. I hate being late.
Finally, we made it out the door. That opened a whole new world of distractions. I walked quickly to the car and opened her door, only to turn around and find that she was still on the front porch.
With a big sigh and more curses under my breath, I walked back across the yard and ushered her down the porch steps.
When we got into the grass, she pulled her hand out of mine and made a break to the left.
She needed to pick flowers.
Meanwhile, I was calculating which route to take and how drastically I’d need to break the speed limit in order to be only fifteen minutes late to work. If I ever actually left her house that day.
Then, with utmost love and serenity on her face, she reached up toward me with a fistful of weeds.
They were the most beautiful flowers anyone had ever given me.
I looked down at her gentle, unhurried smile and the freckles on her nose. I looked at the small hand reaching toward me with the flowers. I saw the pure love in her eyes.
Accepting the flowers, I lowered myself onto one knee and hugged her tightly. My attitude changed instantly. Suddenly, it did not matter that I would be a few minutes late. I had the privilege of spending a few minutes with this precious little girl.
We walked casually hand-in-hand to the car and talked all the way to daycare. I held her hand as I walked her in, then dropped to a knee and gave her another long hug before I left. I drove to work with a smile on my face and in no particular hurry.
That was nine years ago. She now stands eye-to-eye to me. Sometimes she still picks beautiful flowers out of the yard – some would call them weeds, but not me – and hands them to me with that same sweet smile.
-Melanie Patterson
© Forged in Words 2021