Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

‘Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
‘Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of “me”,
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we’ll all live together with a love that is real.

 ~ From “Simple Gifts”  Shaker song (1848)

Friendship-A simple gift.  Love-A simple gift.  Listening-A simple gift.  Sunsets, full moons, a day with any or all of my nieces and nephews, a phone call from my dad, understanding from my mom, a thumbs up from my boss, sharing a smile with an unknown neighbor, my brother dedicating a song to his unknown niece, dog walking, a Saturday afternoon at a wedding, a surprise visit from a friend, a night of no take-home work, singing happy birthday en mass to a friend-all simple gifts.  All free, all easy to give.  So many simple gifts I feel like I could make a list that would last forever.  This is not to say that simple means without an occasional snag, complication, or without some other something that makes things seem not so simple.  That said, let me share with you about a gift I am in the process of receiving that's not so simple.  At least as far as I am concerned.

One day last spring I was sitting in the teacher's lounge at school when someone asked me about the future baby/child's room.  I think I must of thrown my hands up and had a blank stare on my face because soon after the question, people were making suggestions about what I should do.   One teacher, Maryellen, said, "Why don't you put up a few paintings from a favorite story book."  I nodded and laughed thinking, "Sure.  I'll be certain to take my grande artistic talents and apply them to the walls of my future child's room."  After all, I AM very good at making stick figures and coloring.  Well, at least my four year old nephew thinks so.

With that, I listened to ideas and dreamed about being able to create a gift of art for my future child.  Unfortunately, dreaming is as far as I will take such an idea.  I don't want to scare the child--I mean my idea of art may be just what will keep my social worker from approving me for the adoption.  I can honestly say a Mural by Melissa would more than likely look like a fabulous pudding finger paint by my two year old nephew.  Actually, based on his summer chalk drawings in my driveway, he probably could beat me hands down with any judge!

Later, my friend Maryellen and another teacher, Joanne, brought up the room again.  I think I flippantly said, "If I had your talent, I'd do it, but I don't think it is something I can take on."  That's when the plans began.  Last week, Maryellen and Joanne started the most spectacular mural in my future child's room.  It was a bit of a debate because I LOVE the story The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery, but a few people questioned why I'd choose a theme about a little prince.  If you don't know the story it may seem odd but if you do know the story--you get it!  

Published in 1943, The Little Prince is a fantasy about a pilot, stranded in the Sahara, who meets a small boy from another planet. The boy, who refers to himself as a prince, is on a quest for knowledge. The little prince asks questions of the pilot and tells the pilot of life on his own very small planet. This story is told in a simple fashion, as children's stories typically are, but it is not really a children's story. It is a story of a grown-up who has almost forgotten what is important. It is the story of the pilot's reconnection to his own sense of imagination and wonder. It is the story of the re-opening of the pilot's heart.

The pilot then comes to realize that something his little friend told him in the very beginning of the book is true: If you love something, sometimes just knowing it exists is enough to make you happy. The pilot looks up at the stars and knows that somewhere out there, the little prince is back at home, on his own little planet, tenderly caring for his beautiful flower. He wonders about the sheep they both feared might eat it. He thinks to himself how important it is to ask oneself that very question: has the sheep eaten the flower? The story ends as the pilot says to himself "no grown-up will ever understand that this is a matter of so much importance!"

The room's theme is The Little Prince meets The African Princess.  It is most magical.  I can't tear myself away from this gift that these two ladies are giving my child.  This not-so-simple gift of talent and time and love and creativity and literacy is anything but simple.  I am in awe as I walk in the room and see the new additions to the mural.  They picture they used to model the princess after is from another book called Home Now.  I can't wait to share pictures of the work in progress. I want to document this amazing and thoughtful and selfless gift of art that Maryellen and Joanne are giving.  But for now, if you are wondering what the title of this blog entry means, this is for you. Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.