Treasures?

H loves things. All things. All things found. All things given. Fancy dresses, undershirts, rocks, grass clippings, coins, paper clips adn jewelry . Everything. She loves them. And if she hasn't played with it in two years, she still can't bear to part with it. In fact H had tears when K threw away K's holey, smelly first blanket. H thought we should save that blanket for memories. She knows and can recite the verse about not storing up your treasures here on earth where month and rust destroy....but it has little meaning since all objects have memories for H. Sometimes I really get on H's case for loving her stuff too much, especially when she won't share.


She loves people equally as much. All people who so much as smile at her. They are all her friends and she is heart-broken (a word she learned and applied correctly at age 2) when anyone fails to treat her kindly. Playgrounds at age 2 and 3, pre-school, and kindergarten have been a series of advice on how to handle all the people who do not treat her perfectly. I dread junior high. Prayerfully she will get a thicker skin before then.


This morning on the way to school she handed me a small ball of dried grass. I opened the window and tossed it out. She started wimpering and then wailing. The grass was a present for me from her last soccer practice. It was soccer field grass. It was a present. I reguarly fail to treasure H's treasures. She is far more sentimental than me. I apologized but honestly did not feel bad, what would I do with a ball of grass? What would I do if I kept all such treasures she gives me? She has a treasure box where she is supposed to keep all her treasures. It is filled to the brim. The lid can't even close. K's treasure box is empty most of the time. Do your children love things? Do you then save every picture? every new rock? H would sob and sob if she could remember all the stuff I have secretly pitched. I am vehemently opposed to collecting stuff. I am determined to not give in to this American pasttime. But how do I teach my daughter to value the important stuff (Jesus, memories, people, who she is) without gathering piles of stuff? God has made a so many amazing things, treasuring them might not be all bad. I think I have been a little hard on her lately. I might get her a bigger treasure box. Or not. Any thoughts?

The treasure boxes, can you guess which one belongs to H?