Shoebox of Life
Harry immigrated from Russia in the early 1900s, and he came to know my dad and eventually to trust him. One day Harry asked Doc (what I call my father) to "go through my things with me" since his wife was deceased and he had no children. After putting him off several times (secretly fearful of spending hours going through nearly eight decades of accumulated possessions), Doc agreed to help.
Imagine my dad's surprise when he got to Harry's at the appointed time and found him sitting with a single shoebox. Inside were several pictures and other personal keepsakes associated with significant people in Harry's life. The shoebox held no gold or awards or priceless items; just a few pictures and simple mementos of key relationships. Yet to Harry, they were the treasures beyond measure. As Rubel Shelly pointed out, "Life ultimately reduces to those we have loved and those who have loved us."
What are you collecting for your shoebox?
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
