Eric, our older son, and I were chatting on the phone.
“Mom, did you happen to save my old Uncle Wiggily book from when I was little?”
Uncle Wiggily? Goodness. I hadn’t thought about that old rabbit and his adventures for years.
“I doubt that we have it,” I responded. “Didn’t each of you kids already take the children’s books you wanted as keepsakes? I think all we have are some leftovers, saved for the grandchildren.”
“No, I don’t have it either,” he replied.
“Well, maybe it was just too worn out to save.”
“Could be. I was hoping to find a copy because it would be such fun to share with our Elena when she gets a bit older.” He paused a moment. “Remember the picture of Uncle Wiggily in his car?”
This illustration from an earlier edition
No, I didn’t remember.
“The wheels were made from big, fat sausages. That was my favorite page. But every illustration was full of imaginative detail,” he reminisced.
That would explain why Eric, our artist, had such fondness for this book.
“I even checked on Craig’s List to see if anyone might have a copy, but no luck.”
Wow. He did have a big soft spot for Uncle Wiggily. And I had a big case of guilt for getting rid of it.
Why hadn’t I remembered that book was one of his favorites? How could I have thrown it away, even if it was tattered?
Months later, my husband Steve and I were sorting through boxes in the garage. Two of them contained the children’s books we still owned.
Maybe we could pare down to one box, I thought.
I started unloading the books and organizing them into piles. At the very bottom of the second box was—you guessed it–Uncle Wiggily. And it wasn’t in such bad shape after all.
I whispered a prayer of gratitude for this small but precious gift—a blessing that I hadn’t even asked for.
Does it seem to you that out-of-the-blue blessings bring the most joy? Perhaps that’s true because they give us such memorable glimpses of God’s love and grace–love and grace that are:
Undeserved
Just as he “gave” me a book I had not searched for nor prayed for, God loved and provided for each of us before we ever searched for him or prayed to know him (Matthew 5:45; Psalm 14:2).
Personal
Surely there are not many folks who would delight in finding an old copy of Uncle Wiggily. The blessing of discovering its whereabouts was, it seemed, personalized–just for me (and Eric).
Similarly, God’s love and grace are personal. He cares deeply for each of his children. Remember the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7)?
It’s true:
God loves each of us as if there was only one of us.
—St. Augustine
Last, God’s love and grace are:
Lavish
It is doubtful a copy of Uncle Wiggly will turn up at a Sotheby’s auction. It is not a valuable antique volume that collectors will pay thousands of dollars for.
But when I found that book at the bottom of the box, it was like finding buried treasure–placed there by God himself–an unnecessary but perfectly lovely, out-of-the-blue blessing from my Heavenly Father.
I couldn’t wait to call Eric and share with him the good news.
* * * * * * * * * *
What out-of-the-blue blessing have you received that caused great joy? Please share your story in the comment section below!
(Revised and reblogged from August 14, 2014 while we enjoy houseguests.)
Art & photo credits: http://www.flickr.com; http://www.commons.wikimedia.org; http://www.canva.com.; http://www.freebibleimages.com.
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That was a true blessing for you to stumble upon Eric’s old copy of “Uncle Wiggly” shortly after he asked for it. Just a couple of weeks ago, my daughter wanted to know if I’d saved her “Nancy Drew” books. I did. She wants her daughter to enjoy them when she improves her reading skills. I also saved “Winnie the Pooh” books, but none of my grandchildren showed an interest in them-at all! Loved your message, Nancy! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. I hope your granddaughter enjoys the Nancy Drew books as much as her mother did. There’s something special about sharing together the love of a particular book or series. As for Winnie the Pooh–I’m surprised that at least one of your grandchildren didn’t take a shine to him!
Too many more choices now!
Very true!
I love this story and the message, Nancy. I was going to hunt for that book for you at the used bookstore I go to until I finished reading. 🙂
Ruth, what a thoughtful idea you had, to hunt for the book that Eric missed! Thank you!
What a wonderful post, Nancy. Uncle Wiggliy stories were a favorite of mine when I was growing up. That and Bird Life in Wington! You have really stirred my memory pot with this one. I love it.
Thank you, Roth. Eric’s grandmother is the one who purchased the book for him. I have to wonder if she didn’t read Uncle Wiggily stories when she was a girl. (The first collection of stories was published in 1913.) There’s something delightful about sharing favorite books across the generations. / I’ve not heard of Bird Life in Wington. I’ll have to look up that one!
You are welcome. It is great when that happens. You would enjoy Bird Life in Wington..
Here it is… https://www.bing.com/aclk?ld=e8dZRu0xQDVu9DiQRDpd9HezVUCUyLlZp0eVq8KVFv2QJ3i92vANxEboZ0cDVxQpvFGGoQuJgcOSjYKG-RKCYE-YlJhtYi08dmTtd6BgOYImlYewsiXFeOk4aPYnO4ONE-ycs4zhpm_Pllrl6I4ptmQzpBZyTq_LPIk6SqG7_W1njzagSeO-Jvx7P5F_vTmzTvpqQtrQ&u=aHR0cHMlM2ElMmYlMmZ3d3cuYWJlYm9va3MuY29tJTJmc2VydmxldCUyZkJvb2tEZXRhaWxzUEwlM2ZiaSUzZDExMTIwNDYwNDUzJTI2cmVmXyUzZHBzX21zXzQ1ODAxMjMxNCUyNmNtX21tYyUzZG1zbi1fLWNvbXVzX3Nob3BwX3VzZWRfcmFyZS1fLW5hYS1fLW5hYSUyNm1zY2xraWQlM2QwZTQyNDk2MDBlZjcxNTQ3YjUwYTJmZGZhNWUxOWY4YQ&rlid=0e4249600ef71547b50a2fdfa5e19f8a&ntb=1&ntb=1
Worth a small fortune!
Thank you, Roth!
You may call me Dwight! :>)
Thank you, DWIGHT! 😁
:>) No problem… thank you!
My wife told me she thought I still had my Uncle Wiggliy book on my shelf. When I went and looked, sure enough, I have the green cover, Uncle Wiggliy’s Automobile book!! :>)
How about that?! You’ll have to sit a spell with Uncle Wiggily and enjoy a story or two all over again!
And today she came up with the Bird Life in Wington, by J. Calvin Reid that I got when I was eight in 1955!
Wow–you’re not kidding! Is your copy signed too?
No, it just has my name and 1955 in the front.
Oh, Nancy, this is such a perfect example of how God loves us lavishly even in the most insignificant of cares. I do remember Uncle Wigglly stories, too, as a child, and had many favorite books that have, miraculously, been saved and are now in our library at home. I’m so, so happy that Eric asked, you sought, and God found. Blessings to you all!
Thank you, Martha. How wonderful that you still have many of your favorite books from childhood. I have a few. Two volumes of “Little Brown Bear” stories are among them, and I looked forward to sharing them with our granddaughters as they became preschoolers. Alas, the stories did not capture their attention as I’d hoped! On the other hand, their mother has been very intentional about introducing them to many of the classics, so we’ve enjoyed discussing those!
Nancy, this is a sweet post that conveys a message of God’s lavish love! I saved our son’s books and toys that our grands are now enjoying. So glad you found the Uncle Wiggly book for Eric!
Blessings,
Pam
Isn’t it fun to share the books and toys that our children enjoyed–with a new generation? We moved several times during our children’s growing-up years, so we didn’t save a lot. Actually, I’m surprised we still had two boxes of children’s books at the time these events occurred!
I love those “just because” gifts. 💕
i was praying one day (giving thanks) and “heard” the Lord ask me what I wanted. I started praying for friends and family that I knew had needs. He said, “No, what do YOU want?” I had everything I needed and told Him so (gratefully). He seemed to be persisting – “But what do you WANT?” I impulsively told Him I would love to sing a song I had just learned on the harp at the Maundy Thursday dinner – an event at our church I had never been to, much less participated in. And it was less than two days away! I laughed at what I assumed was an imaginary conversation with God that I’d made up. Long story short, through several “coincidences,” I did get to sing the song Thursday night.
Thank you for your delightful story, Annie. I love the fact that your desire to sing that song not only gave you satisfaction but surely blessed others as well!
What a dear story, Nancy!
Thank you, Wynne!
Uncle Wiggly has come on my radar recently too as I discovered that the author and his wife were both, separately, very popular children’s writers. We had an Uncle Wiggly book in my childhood home. God is so loving to give us things we rejoice in that we wouldn’t have thought to ask for. 💜
I didn’t know that the wife of H. R. Garis was also a writer. I wonder how much they helped each other with their stories!
My husband was recently given a book from his childhood (his sister had found it in their parents’ possessions years ago.) Why she had kept it, we do not know but recently she sent it to him. He was only 5 when he got it – it was Peter Rabbit. I found it so sweet to see this almost 84 year old man tear up when he got it.
The emotional ties to our childhoods are sometimes stronger than we realize! I’m sure that Peter Rabbit book brought back precious memories for your husband.
Oh, I am so glad the book showed up! What a treasure. Your son must have been thrilled!
TT
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He was! At the time these events happened, we were living about 900 miles apart from our son, his wife, and infant daughter. Now the distance between us is about 10 minutes. (And there’s another daughter in their home too.) Every time I catch a glimpse of that book, it makes me smile to remember the little miracle it represents!
Such a sweet story of God’s attention to the personal details of our lives! You know how we have prayed for Aaron to learn to love and enjoy Ryker. Last night we celebrated my husband’s birthday. We were blowing those party blowout favors just for fun. I was able to teach Ryker how to blow in it and he was so excited. But the best thing was that Aaron was watching it intently and when Ryker succeeded in blowing in it correctly, Aaron laughed. He was excited that Ryker did it! Aaron struggles with parties, so this was a double kind of sweet blessing for us. Thank you for letting us share in your blessing story, Nancy.
I’m SO glad you shared this with us, Patty. How exciting to hear that Aaron delighted in Ryker’s achievement during an event that usually causes Aaron to struggle. God is working some miracles through that little guy!
God really is using Ryker to work some miracles in Aaron’s life. It’s so special to see it happening.
Lovely. How kind God is too us. Truly, even the hairs on our head are numbered (Matt. 10: 30-31).
God’s loving kindness to us is indeed EXCELLENT (Psalm 36:7)!
Great post, Nancy. Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord cares about the little things that are important to us? After my dad passed away I found an old book about the birth of Jesus that had belonged to his sister who had passed away in 1945 at the age of 20 due to a congenital heart valve defect. This book is titled “He Who Was Once a Little Child” by Amy Steedman. It is in very bad shape and I can’t find a copyright date, but it was presented to Barbara Gottfried on Sunday, July 19, 1936, for Honor Work during the quarter. She would have been 11 years old and I suspect it was from her Sunday School teacher. Never in a million years would I have ever thought to ‘find’ something that belonged to an aunt who died before I was born, but it was such a treat and I treasure it for sure.
I can imagine your delight in finding that book, Cheri, connecting you to an aunt you never knew. Even more delightful to know that someday you’ll meet her in heaven!
Nancy,
The memories are the treasure. The book is extra. Glad you found it.
Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
You’re right, Gary. The memories of reading the book and then sharing it with his own daughters is the real treasure!
oh, I’m so glad you found the book, Nancy! Decluttering was like that for me- while most of what I found was junk, I found treasures I immediately started using too! Some things were also items we would have bought more of,not realizing we already had some.
i hope Elena is enjoying the book now too!
I’m all for decluttering, but there is the danger we’ll get rid of TOO much. For example, I wish I’d kept some of my old books from childhood; I only have a few. Then again, I suppose that’s a lesser problem than hoarding! I’ll have to ask Elena what she thought of those Uncle Wiggily stories. Shame on me, I don’t remember asking!!
How cool you found that book and I loved the photos of the pages. I bet he was thrilled too. what precious memories too and wonderful lesson in joy and faith. great post!
Thank you, Jean. Actually those photos of the pages came from an edition of the early 1900s. Eric’s book is a more recent edition, but of course those illustrations are copyright protected. He was thrilled to receive the book back again AND share it with his young daughters.
God is over the big and little details of our lives. I love the personal story you’ve shared!!
There are times when I will simply ask to find something little and then that little blessing comes along, and prayer is answered. I am quick to thank Him. I get so excited, and I have determined that the reason so many of my little prayers are answered surely is because it must delight God to receive that kind of gratefulness and appreciation. And I don’t want that to sound like a huge pat on my back, but it is really all about His glory.
I’m sure our gratitude does bring God delight, just as human parents take delight in their children saying “thank you” without prompting. A grateful heart tends to notice more of God’s gifts, I think–even the small ones! P.S. I can’t imagine you patting yourself on the back, Alicia. I know you’re among the first to give God glory for all his goodness!
This brought a smile to my face!! Thank you!!
And thank you for a sweet blog where you point your readers to thankfulness in Him in so many ways!❤️
So glad I could bring a smile to your face, Alicia. And thank you for your warm-hearted encouragement!
This was such a blessing to read today!!! Yes, God certainly delivers out of the blue blessings that touch our hearts and fill us with joy. I am so glad you found this special book!!!
You can imagine how my heart skipped a beat when that familiar cover-illustration came into view! I’m so glad this story was a blessing for you, Linda.
I have saved books for my children as well. I know these childhood treasures are so important…pages gone by, but not forgotten…happy moments shared not so very long ago!
Oh yes, LInda. “Happy moments shared not so very long ago,” INDEED! The calendar declares differently, but the children who once lived under our roof still live in our memories!
Yes! And they share these same stories with their children, and so, the legacy of love continues…