The Scent of Loving can be left at the most unexpected moments.

It may sneak in under my nose and even pass me by.  But God knows when I need to be reminded that He notices where I am and what I need.

The gifts He gives me may be small and simple to folks who don’t know me well.  Between us, though, I know they were picked out just for me.  Not only just for the practical things like the roof over my head or the clothes on my back, but for my heart and soul.   He’ll sneak something just for me: in my work day, between the pages of the book I’m reading, or even at my kitchen sink.

Here’s a FaithBarista Flashback, when TJ was two years old.  I hope you enjoy the moment I opened a gift that didn’t come wrapped up in a bow.

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Even though it’s not Mother’s Day yet, I’ve already received my Mother’s Day gift. My gift this year didn’t come in the mail and it wasn’t wrapped up in a bow.

My Mother’s Day gift arrived unexpectedly, when I least expected it (No, I wasn’t pregnant, so I didn’t go into labor!).

I was just doing the dishes, working in the kitchen. It’s a typical day that you’ll find me standing at the sink, multi-tasking between being the dishwasher, prep cook, the toddler entertainer and the personal assistant to my celebrity TJ.

“MMMMOOOMMMEEEE! CAN I HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER?!” It doesn’t matter than I’m just a couple feet away from him. TJ always feels it’s important to holler, especially when he gets struck with inspiration.

“Oh, no,” I thought, as I stand there with the rubber gloves soapy wet with dish washing liquid. It’s such a nuisance having to take the gloves off and stop midway. I was so close to finishing this one task. Can’t I get one thing done, without having it chopped up into hundreds of little intervals?

I made sure that I read him a pile of books and played trains before I launched into my chores. Why can’t he just play by himself? Grumble, grumble.

Taking a deep breath, I remind myself:  This is why I became a mom. This is what you wanted. To be his mommy. Take your TJ commercial break. Just go.

Exhaling, I channeled the preschool teacher in me and responded, “Sure! Let’s get a piece of paper for TJ! What do you want to draw?”

I start heading for the art supplies: drawing paper, pens, paints, and crayons. I start visualizing the next 10-15 minutes melting away sitting at TJ’s toddler table watching him create “art” and another 5-10 minutes cleaning up the “art”.

“No, Mommy. I don’t want to draw. I want to write a letter!” TJ holds up a letter that his grandparents had written him recently. We had read it together and explained to him it was a “letter” from Grandma and Grandpa.

“Oh, sure. Who will you write a letter to?” Okay, I’ll play along.

“I am going to write a letter to Mommy!” TJ announces.

“OOOOOHHHHHH! YOU WILL?!” I was VERY excited. TJ’s first letter to me!

“Can I have a pen, please?” TJ ignores my inquiry and wants to get down to business.

“What will you write in your letter?” I asked him as I handed him a pen. I was faint with anticipation. I knew his answer might be, “I don’t know.”

In the sweetest, most angelic voice to my ears, TJ says, “I will write, ‘I love you, Mommy.'”

TJ gets super close to the paper and starts scribbles upon scribbles of writing on the “letter” (When TJ said he’d write a “letter”, he literally meant the letter that Grandma and Grandpa wrote him).

After some furious writing, TJ puts down his pen. “Here, Mommy. This is for you.”

As he hands me the most beautiful scribbles I had ever laid eyes on, I scoop my cutie pie into my arms and smother him with tickles and kisses. There, in that family room, cluttered with trains, planes and automobiles, I received the most perfect Mother’s Day gift ever.

Even with dirty dishes in the sink.

So, how about you?  What are gifts you’ve received that weren’t wrapped up in a bow?