| My mom always said, "Never show up empty | | | | she would always have a ready supply of |
| handed" when you're invited to someone's house. | | | | bananas to add to her breads. If time was short |
| No matter why they invited you -- housewarming | | | | and energy spent, Mom would find another gift to |
| party, baby shower, dinner with neighbors, or a | | | | give. In fact, giving was her middle name. She |
| birthday party, -- and no matter whether they | | | | would sometimes elicit Dad's help in her spirit of |
| insist that you not bring anything. Don't show up | | | | gift-giving. She would send him out to the garden |
| empty handed. Mom's gone now, but her advice | | | | to gather a bucket of tomatoes or a pail of |
| sticks with me to this day. And, like she, I now | | | | ripened pears to share. |
| stock up on gift items when I see them on sale, | | | | Mom's sage advice taught me that sometimes |
| to have a supply ready for any occasion, just in | | | | we have to give beyond our means. And, by |
| case. | | | | that, I don't mean finances, but time and energy |
| I grew up the daughter of a minister. My dad was | | | | and passion. Mom could always find the time and |
| a pastor, and our front door was a revolving one. | | | | the energy to reach out to a friend or a neighbor |
| We were always receiving guests or being | | | | who needed a hug or a bit of encouragement or |
| received into others' homes as guests. Because | | | | comfort. If the occasion called for visiting a friend |
| Mom was the one behind the scenes, planning the | | | | who was under the weather, she could muster up |
| party, cooking the meals, cleaning the house, or | | | | the energy to do so. Along with that visit, she |
| planning the affair, she truly did appreciate the | | | | remembered her own advice, and never showed |
| many small tokens of thanks from her guests. If | | | | up empty-handed. A vase of flowers, a loaf of |
| a friend visited with a bouquet of flowers for the | | | | fresh bread, gooey chocolate brownies, a fragrant |
| table, a foil-wrapped loaf of bread, or a basket of | | | | candle, a pound of gourmet coffee, a pot of |
| hand-picked peaches, Mom (and Dad) found hugs | | | | homemade soup, a tin of homemade chocolate |
| galore to thank their guests for their gifts. | | | | chip cookies, or a basket of crisp apples would |
| Mom loved to cook, and she made the most | | | | accompany her visit. And, her small gift always |
| awesome banana bread. Friends would bring her | | | | had her own personal, loving touch. |
| ripened bananas to store in her freezer, so that | | | | |