As a kid, every once in a while, not every time, but now and again, my dad would come home from the store with a pomegranate. During some previous store trip that I don’t recall, when I was with him, I must have asked him to buy a pomegranate. I like pomegranates. And, following my initial request, my dad remembered and would buy me one on occasion.
I don’t know what the occasion ever was. There was no pattern that I could detect, but sure enough, on some random day after school I would find a pomegranate in the fridge for me. And I would cut it open, peel it apart, and eat the wonderfully juicy, red seed pods, and enjoy it.
Looking back, understanding better the complications of my dad and his relationship to being a dad, his pomegranate purchase was simply his love language. It said things that he couldn’t say: He loved me and wanted me to know this in spite of whatever chaos may have been living in our household. And, I get it now, and I love him for it.
This stands as a powerful lesson to me – the impact of our simple, loving gestures- our expressions of love that involve paying attention and responding – matter very much. It’s easy to struggle with communicating well sometimes. We can’t find the words, or don’t know the words, or don’t understand them. But, we know what they feel like. And, they feel like the gift of a surprise pomegranate to an uncertain ten year old kid. And, many times this can say more than the words could.
So, buy more pomegranates for the people you love…
Photo credit: Robin Malmanger
Dave Markwell is a life-long Des Moines liver and lover. Former owner of Waterland CrossFit and the Waterland Arcade, Dave uses his unique story-telling voice to help small businesses tell a better story, and his love for people to help folks live bigger and better lives. For more info, check out his website: wordsbydave.net
