Sandwiched
Some people would be surprised to hear that I don’t keep a lot of books around the house. Like most authors, I love to read. But I typically buy used books at local thrift stores for a dollar or less, enjoy them, then pass them along to my mom’s assisted living facility for others to read. Or I borrow books from our wonderful local library.
But some books have made such a huge impact on my life that I’ll never part with them. One in particular came from my mother at the perfect time when I was a freshman at IU Bloomington.
While I loved IU right from the start, I wasn’t your typical college student. I’ve never been one to stay up late and it wasn’t uncommon to find me working on a research paper on a Saturday night vs. attending parties. And drinking a lot didn’t appeal to me, although I’ve had my fair share of, um, “episodes” which are thankfully buried in the distant past.
I remember struggling to fit in during the spring semester. One day I went to a nearby church, sat in a middle pew, and cried my eyes out. I wondered if I’d ever make some good friends at IU.
When I returned to my dorm and checked the mail, I saw an unexpected package from my mother. It was a book called To My Daughter With Love On The Important Things in Life written by Susan Polis Schutz. I opened it and saw a message from Mom.
“To Amy, with all my love, Mom. April 6, 1989. May you be as lucky as I am to have a daughter to give this to.”
Before I even read the rest of the book, I was crying again, this time in happiness. I have no idea what prompted Mom to send me such a beautiful book when I needed it the most, but it was perfect timing. I remember finishing the semester feeling buoyant and optimistic for the future. I returned to IU my sophomore year, joined a service fraternity, found my “people,” and went on to have an incredible college experience.
As I look at this book today, I think about my own son, Jonathon, who will start college at IUPUI this fall. While he’ll be living at home during his first year or two, we’re planning on him eventually living near campus. His brother Jacob is planning on going to Purdue in a couple of years after attending Ivy Tech.
I know that college will be wonderful for them, but it will also have its challenges. Like my mom, I’m already planning on sending them fun surprises such as cookies, candy and cards. And while I didn’t end up having a daughter, I was lucky enough to have two sons who’ve brought me tremendous joy.
I hope God will guide me just like He did all those years ago with my mom to send them just the right thing at just the right time.