Trench art….
is the term that I found online when researching the three bracelets she had donated. The era is WWII and as soldiers wait in the trenches, missing their sweethearts they craft mementos for them from the coins in their pockets. And in my hand I held three of these treasures, and sincerely wish that they could tell a story…
Were they from the same soldier? Did he love her so much that he made three of these beauties for her? It’s sometimes easy to forget that 70 years ago, one just couldn’t pick up the phone to FaceTime, send a text or photo. A young man away from the one he so desperately loves, his family and the familiar surroundings of home, takes the coins from his pocket and gently rubs his fingers across them. He is a million miles away from the noisy surroundings, and as a tear falls slow motion from the corner of his eye onto the face of the coin, it explodes then settles into a glassy drop in which he sees his reflection. And he prays the soldier he sees in the reflection will once again hold his sweetheart in his arms, as he begins to connect the coins together to make her a bracelet.
She waits by the mailbox each day for the postman, for a letter from her sweetheart who seems to be a universe away. And he smiles as he hands her an envelope, one that is larger than usual. Her hands tremble as she excitedly but gently opens the flap of the envelope that over a week ago he had sealed with a kiss. She removes the letter and a loosely folded brown paper towel, and then begins to read his hand written words.
My Love, Here in the trenches, missing and loving you in the midst of my rainy, muddy world that I am not allowed to share the details of with you. And thoughts of you are what brings my heart hope and a ray of sunshine to my day. I made this bracelet as a token of my love for you. And I thought of you as I carefully cut out each figure, taking care to focus on the delicate details that take me back to times with you. Carry this with you as a sign of my love until my return. With love, your Soldier Boy
Carefully unfolding one layer, then the next and the next, she lays her eyes on this beautiful piece of jewelry that he made just for her. And as she runs her fingers over the delicate details of each figure on the coins, a tear drop falls from the corner of her eye onto the coin and burst into rays of sunshine reflecting the sky above. She smiles as she watches it settle into a glassy drop in which she sees his reflection and prays for his safe return.
I run my fingers over the bracelet, and know that I want this piece as the love and care still radiates from it. I try to keep track of the time, and it passes quickly that day – the silent auction ends at 7:00pm, and at 6:59 I rush through the doors, pen in hand to place my name on the bottom of the list with the highest bid. In slow motion I reach for the paper as he swoops it up from under my pen. I pull my iPhone out (don’t carry watches anymore) and say that I still have time, but alas it truly is 7:00pm. One word, disappointment…. I turn away, and she smiles at me as she hands me the bracelet that she had won as the highest bidder. You see, things aren’t always as they seem and we must pause to give thanks. And I love her and her thoughtfulness. Mahalo.
Today I am filled with gratitude for the gift of love that our Lord gives to us. Not only His love for us, but the gift of our capacity to love one another. A tear of joy for that love falls from the corner of my eye onto the coin, exploding into a world across the universe, and as it settles into a glassy pool I see myDarlin Robert Kenui Pope’s reflection looking back at me saying, ‘Keep looking up, every little thing’s gonna be alright.’ I love you myDarlin’.
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