I just MUST share a little bit of Hawaii with you this morning. When
Mark came home from his mission trip to Honolulu Tuesday, he brought
back a hint of Paradise..He got out of the car wearing a beautiful lei
about his neck.
He came to me took the lei from his own neck and placed that lovely
creamy plumeria lei about my shoulders with the traditional kiss and
"Aloha, Momma". I tell you it took my breath away. It was still fresh
as the moment it was made, moisture still on the petals. If you have
been to Hawaii, you know what sensations filled me. For a little while
it was like being transported on a magical tradewind. I closed my eyes
and the fragrance of those lovely, lovely plumeria blossoms again
became the scent of Hawaii, and I could almost feel the soft caress of
the breeze, and almost hear the sounds of Hawaii again, the swoosh of
the surf breaking on the shore and whispering thru, the unforgettable
music of liquid melodious singing Hawaiian voices. And I could almost
see a slender Hawaiian wahine with her long hair blowing in the wind,
and her bright muumuu gently moving about her swaying form. Somehow I
found myself close to tears..homesick tears for beautiful Hawaii even
after thirty plus years.
I wore my lei that afternoon, and when Debbie came in I shared it with
her with the same kiss and Aloha. We all just sat and breathed in that
fragrance that is like no other. And the four of us reminisced for a
while about dear people and special places from a time long ago.
This morning I made a table-scape of a rough basket, seashells ,
dove figurines and intended to display my lei across it all so we
could continue to enjoy it's fragrance and beauty before it fades and
wilts. But as I lifted it from it's clear box and laid it across the
shells, that fragrance rose in my nostrils again and I picked it up held
it to my face , closed my eyes and stood breathing in that unforgettable
fragrance of Hawaiian plumeria. I draped it around my shoulders, and sat
down to the keyboard to try to find words for the emotions evoked by the
scent and sight and touch of a lovely lei from one of the loveliest
spots on earth. How the heart of God must have delighted in the
beautiful gem He created..
"He hath made every thing beautful in His time..Eccl. :"
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THE WRITINGS OF RUTH MARTIN