About a year ago, I came home from a holiday market with a 2018 calendar of photographs showcasing beautiful scenery from around our state. The photographer is a high school classmate of mine. Within minutes of me walking in with it, Jacob had to see and started flipping through the pages. He loves slick finish and colorful pages so this was super appealing to him. Over the next month before it was put on our refrigerator for the new year, he’d often find it to look through. Studying some pictures for minutes and others only seconds. Once it was hung up in use, he never pulled it down or even seemed to notice it.
Then earlier this fall I attended another market where that classmate had a booth. I proceeded to tell him how much Jacob enjoyed the calendar. As I purchased the 2019 version, he handed me a 2018 one to take to Jacob. Upon arriving home, I immediately took it back to Jacob’s room. You can see in the top row of photos how he is studying each page. What a simple gift that made him so happy. He held it looking from month to month with such careful thought.
Of course, it wouldn’t do that Jacob now had his own to thumb through. It wasn’t long before he found the new one I had put away. He pulled it out of the bag and had to examine it, too. I have found him several times with the 2019 one in his lap. (Bottom row of photos.) Obviously he realized it contained a different set of impressive pictures to enjoy. Makes my heart smile at how a small thing can bring him so much pleasure.
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
