Too Nice

I remember the red box.
It was on the shelf in my closet.
The closet was in the bedroom I had when I was a girl.
I could not think of a time when the box was not there.

Other things were on top of the box.
The box was long and rectangular in shape.
I remember the day I got a foot stool so I could take it down and open it.
I wanted to know what was inside.

Inside the box, there was a ballerina doll.
I remember her gold costume that had been pressed down so she could fit in the box.
I remember her gold toe shoes that laced around her ankles.
I remember that she even had gold earrings in her ears.

Her hair was up in a bun.
Her skin was soft and rubbery.
Her arms and legs were not jointed but were supple enough to move a bit.
Her nails were polished red.

She was so beautiful.
I wanted to play with her.
I got her out of the box ever so carefully.
I remember the crinkle of the tissue paper that was around her.

I was almost afraid to touch her.
There had to be a reason she was kept in the box on the shelf.
I never remembered receiving her as a gift.
I never remembered her under the tree on Christmas morning.

My mother came upstairs to put laundry away.
She saw the doll in my hands.
She saw the footstool in front of the closet.
She waited for me to talk first.

Why is this doll in a box? I asked thinking that was the most obvious question.
It was a very special gift when you were just a baby, she answered.
She was too nice to play with, so I put her away, my mother explained.
On that day, I realized that toys were placed in categories: every day and too nice.

There were not many toys that were deemed too nice, though there were a few.
There was the large coloring book of Victorian girls in fancy dresses.
Each page was suitable for framing.
The coloring pages were deemed, too nice, for every day.

I decided that I would not have toys that were too nice when my children were small.
Their toys were to be used and enjoyed.
And used they were.
That’s the way it should be.

I do have an antique baby doll that belonged to my aunt.
I did expect that doll to be looked at, but not touched.
My children would go over and wave to the doll but they never asked to play with it.
The funny thing is, my granddaughter is doing the same thing.

I thought of this when I looked at the clothes in my closet.
I have clothes that are for special occasions.
I have clothes I wear when I walk each morning.
I have clothes that are worn when I go out to lunch with a friend.

I realized that without thinking, I was categorizing some clothes as too nice for every day.
Why was I doing that?
Why was I saving them?
Why was I not enjoying them after my initial purchase?

Jan Karon said it best.
Bottom line, wasn’t life itself a special occasion?
There should be no categories: too nice and every day.
There should be wonder, gratitude, and simple pleasures to enjoy.

Serve dinner on the good dishes.
Put a tablecloth on the table for no reason.
Cut fresh flowers and place them in a pretty vase.
Wear that dress you were saving for another day.

Let the chores wait while you blow bubbles with your grandchild.
Go on a nature walk.
Dance in the kitchen, even if someone is watching.
Sing your heart out simply because you love the song.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

The Lord has made the day.
All good gifts are from His hand. (James 1:17)
We are to enjoy them.
We are to be glad.

There are no categories.
There are God’s gifts.
God’s gifts are not to be kept on a shelf.
We are to wonder at the evidence of God’s grace in our lives.

Don’t put things on a shelf for another day.
Live now.
Bask in the joy.
Today IS a special occasion.

2 responses to “Too Nice”

1. Love this Gina! It’s so uplifting❤️

   Reply

   • I am glad you were blessed, Susan!
     Gina

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