Red Poppies

My brother David posted on Facebook a picture of my brother George and me. The first thing that caught my eye was the red poppy hiding in the red of my sweatshirt. It is funny when we think of our childhood and the little things that stick with us all our lives. I still adore those red poppies and as recently as last month proudly wore one at the LaPorte County Fair.

As a young Girl Scout I remember planting poppies on one of the banks along the roadway in Southern California near Palos Verdes. This was a tribute to our veterans and a community beautification project. As children we were encouraged to embrace the beauty of our country and support those who fought to protect our freedom and way of life. I remember wearing a POW bracelet until Lt. Bernard Tally Jr. returned from Vietnam.

Last week while at the grocery Liam asked if the gentleman before us was a soldier. Dressed in camo pants and cap this unobtrusive man was selecting bread. I encouraged Liam to ask if he was indeed a soldier. The man replied that yes he was at one time, but was now retired. I could see the lines and age upon his face. Liam smiled at him his sweetest five year old smile and said “thank you”. The man’s face softened and he smiled.

I think of all we teach and all we neglect to teach our children. We often teach them to be polite, to understand etiquette and generally show all the social graces. We often neglect however to tell them why.  It is more than the proper way to behave. It is because we are all God’s children. We are all loved and adored. We are all set aside as holy and special. Manners are a way that we show respect and share the love of God to others.

So as I see the red poppy on the sweatshirt of one year old me, I look back and think of all the important things my family and society taught me as I grew up. I think of all the little red poppies of respect and honor, of love and grace, of peace through Christ that I wear within myself. I think of Liam and my responsibility to teach and encourage the red poppies to grow within him to be that special smile in the world that shares the love of God.

Ann