Nana Alene’sClootie TreeWritten by Patricia Rodriguez

Photo © Lensman 300 | Dollar Photo Club

One Saturday morning while cleaning, I found a beautiful

wooden box under my Nana’s bed. The lid of the

box had small, colorful flowers

carved into it.

“What’s in this box?” I asked Nana. “My treasures,

sweet girl.” “Can I see them?”

I asked. “Yes, but after we finish cleaning,” Nana

answered.

Finally, we finished cleaning Nana’s bedroom and I quickly placed the box

on her bed. She nodded and I opened the box.

My eyes were drawn to a small cat with green

sparkling eyes. Nana told me it is made

of porcelain and was given to her by a special friend on

her 10th birthday.

Then, Nana picked up her engagement ring and placed

iton my finger. It slipped right off, falling into the treasure

box which made us both giggle.

Next, I picked up a baby jar filled with water and

seashells. Nana Alene told me it was collected by her mother from the ocean on

the day of her baptism. When I shook the jar,

I could see the sand and shells swirling in the water.

Then I noticed an item which seemed out of place, so I picked it up to show it to

Nana.

It was a strand of faded cloth. Nana took hold of the other end. Nana began to tell the story of the clootie

tree.

When she was a young girl living in Ireland, her Aunt

Nessa became ill. As was the custom, Nana Alene cut a

piece of cloth from her aunt’s pink-colored robe and dipped it in the water of the well near the clootie tree.

Nana offered a prayer asking for God’s healing spirit to

help her aunt, and then tied the cloth to the clootie tree.

As the rose color faded from many days spent blowing in

the sun and wind, God’s healing spirit comforted her

aunt.

Nana explained to me that Aunt Nessa could see the clootie tree from her

bedroom window, and when Nana came to visit, they would watch the cloth blowing in the wind.

One morning, when Nana was snuggling with her Aunt

Nessa, she explained to Nana that when you pray

asking for God’s healing, the Holy Spirit responds with a

blessing.

“Blessings come in many shapes and forms, Alene,”

explained Aunt Nessa. Watching the cloth blowing in the wind under the bright sunlight brought comfort to Aunt Nessa because it sang

to her each day of God’s love.

Nana told meAunt Nessa shared her

favorite scripture with her.

“Remember, Alene, there is nothing in all of creation, not

even death or life, or the world above or below, that can separate us from God’s love which is ours through

Christ.”

When Aunt Nessa died, Nana removed the cloth and

placed it in her treasure box. Nana would hold the cloth when she yearned for her Aunt

Nessa.

Several years later, when Nana Alene became sick, I cut a piece of her robe and

tied it to a tree. I created my own clootie

tree.

If I close my eyes, I can still see the faded strand of cloth blowing in the wind and hear her voice whispering, “Never

forget that nothing can separate you from the love

of God.”

As Nana physically faded away, the Holy Spirit blessed us all with strength, comfort,

and joy.

Nana Alene began to understand

that healing comes from God’s constant presence in our lives

and the love of our familyand friends. Healing isn’t only physical. Healing most often

comes in the form of peace when we recognize God is with us

during all our joys and sorrows.

The Holy Spirit encourages us to embrace love because

it is triumphant.

Love wins!

And so the story continuesto blow in the wind, singing love’s triumph over all.