My daughter’s fingers brushed against something tiny and crinkly as she slipped them into the cardigan’s pocket. She took it out, a small velvet pouch and a folded piece of yellowed paper. As I opened the note, my heart pounded. In the delicate handwriting of my grandmother, it said: “For when you need me most.” Grandma, love. A thin gold chain with a locket was inside the pouch. I opened it with shaky hands. There was a small picture of me in her arms as a baby on one side. There was a photo of her on the other, grinning in that kind, warm manner I remembered. My vision was blurred by tears. All those years ago, I had disregarded her gift, not understanding that she had concealed something far more valuable than yarn and stitches.
The cardigan was more than just a garment— It was her method of keeping me close even after she was gone, her sacrifice, and her love. I considered how, in order to give me something from the bottom of her heart, she had spent weeks saving money while knitting late into the night with sore fingers. And without a second thought, I had dismissed it. With the locket over her heart, my daughter secured the chain around her neck.
She muttered, “She must have truly loved you.” Unable to speak, I nodded. At that time, I made a silent vow to my grandmother that I would always treasure the cardigan and the lesson. The best treasures aren’t always wrapped in glistening paper. They are concealed in plain sight, awaiting the moment when we will recognize their value.