What I Treasure

“From a vision of beauty

to a moment of passion

and then an endless waiting for the stirring of life….”

 Exhausted, yet filled with joy, I sat down to pen these, the first few words of a song to welcome my son, Tim, into the world.  Over the previous twenty-four hours, I had experienced so many emotions there is no way to remember them all.  How can any man put into words what he feels at a moment like this?  So I struggled for words that could give meaning to another milestone in our lives together.  As I thought of all seven boys, the first awkward strains of a chorus stirred to life:

 “…Every one’s a love song, the treasure of our dreams!”

Bringing one of these precious little ones into the world is indeed an emotional experience.  Few other events in life can reduce one to tears the way handing his newborn child to his Mommy for the first time does.  Beyond our tender heart for newborn babies, what else is it that binds us together? 

 As I thought about that a few years back, I got word that our Aunt Margie’s health was taking a turn for the worst.  Actually it was worse than that – she was entering the last hours of her time with us.  Uncle Bill held her tightly and would not let go.  “What can I do?” he pleaded.  A loved one nearby told him, “just tell her you’re here for her, and that you love her…”  They couldn’t tell him what he already had to know.  An elderly couple who had been together from callow youth was now in what might be their last embrace.

 It was not unexpected, but it was a blow to all of us. 

 Margie never sent Hallmark holiday cards to the people in her life.  The “very best” was not good enough, and so people received beautifully hand crafted cards with calligraphed sentiment written just for them.  Memories of the moments we enjoyed with Aunt Margie over the years were awakened by the thought that I may not see her before her Creator does.  For some reason, her beautiful greeting cards were among the strongest memories for me.

 There is a thread that ties Tim’s welcome to Aunt Margie’s farewell.  Somewhere stored in my wife’s collection of things treasured is one of the last handmade greeting cards Aunt Margie created.  I’ve never been one for thinking much about such things, but now I can’t help but wonder if one of those cards was a birthday card for Tim.  At their last meeting, she doted on him as everyone does.  Anyone who ever caught her affection can find a card she made just for them, if they thought to save it.

 It would be easy to say that I treasure these memories.  It would be dishonest.  When I first heard that Aunt Margie may not make it to the end of the day, it occurred to me that something more than beautifully crafted greeting cards tie her and Tim together in my life.  I realized for a brief moment that each of us is somebody’s “love song”.  It’s not easy to see everyone around us as a treasure, but that is what I’ve learned from that day of reflection so many years ago.  From the moment a newborn opens his eyes and sees his father’s face for the first time to the moment at the end of life when he closes his eyes and sees his Father’s face for the first time, lives are touched.  Every one’s a love song, the treasure of our dreams.

So I have to say in the end, that you are what I treasure.  I pray that I can show that in meaningful ways everyday.

Happy Mother’s Day, Sweetie.

Mother’s Day

Tony Silva

From a vision of beauty

to a moment of passion

and then an endless waiting

for the stirring of life

 There's a part of you

and a part of me

that by Grace came to being

and -- oh how our depth of loving

brings purpose  to life.

   Such a joy to behold.

May he never grow too old

to be wrapped in hugs

and given love

and a name to carry on.

    ‘Cause every one's a love song

the treasure of our dreams

in a simple act of giving

you gave eternally.

    Yes, every one’s a love song

through the joy and through the pain

if He called us to this purpose,

I’d do it all again.

Yes, I’d do it all again – with you!

From the moment I saw you,

I knew I had to have you,

be father to your children

and the lover of your soul.

   Then a part of you

and a part of me

by God’s grace came to being

and -- Oh how His depth of loving

has so filled our lives.

   Such a joy to behold.

May they never grow too old

to be wrapped in hugs

and given love

and a name to carry on.

    ‘Cause every one's a love song

the treasure of our dreams

in those simple acts of giving

He gave eternally.

    Yes, every one’s a love song

Through the joy and through the pain

If He called us to this purpose,

I’d do it all again.

Yes, I’d do it all again – with you!

© 2007 Tony Silva