In Grandma's Pockets

The Treasure of Connection

Mar 20, 2025

On either side of her worn pioneer dress, Jane Middleton’s grandchildren would find treasures. The wonders of Grandma Middleton’s pockets included: “thimbles, little scissors, a half knitted sock, her spectacles… an Old Testament, peppermint lozenges and large sweet raisins.” 1 Of course, it was the last two that delighted the children the most, but I love that her pockets were a treasure trove of items. Things she was working on as well as the scriptures. I’m often carrying around various items like a book, my half-finished crochet projects and a notebook. (Wish my pockets were bigger!)

There was sometimes Grandma Middleton had an even greater surprise tucked into the folds of her dress. Often, in the early spring, a tiny little chirp, chirp could be heard coming from her bosom. With their little faces full of delight and wonder, the children would beg their grandma for a peek. She would “pull from her dress front a tiny bundle of flannel in which was wrapped a downy chick that she had found half frozen in the yard.”2 The children, I’m sure were full of joy and giggles as they ooh-ed and aww-ed over the tiny chick. I’m sure it delighted Jane as well to share this small joy with them— to see their faces light up and the smiles on their ruddy cheeks.

It really is the small things in life that bring us joy… if we are paying attention.

Grandma Middleton’s pockets didn’t just contain treats and the occasional chick, they were pockets that contained connection. And why? Because she was paying attention. There were peppermints and raisins in her pockets because she knew that made her grandkid’s hearts and bellies full. She took the time and care to show them the little chick she was attempting to save.

She even made the mundane task of helping with the dishes a sought after event. Sounds made up, right? Can you imagine? One of her granddaughters writes, “Her dishwashing was inspirational because she accompanied it with Burns’ songs, interesting quotations from his poems or stories from his life.” 3I can’t see any of my kids ever calling helping with dishes inspirational! But, in her wisdom, Jane was able to use this mundane, generally hated chore as an opportunity to connect with her grandchildren.

I wonder how our lives and our relationships would change if, like Jane, we used small everyday moments as pockets of connection. Instead of being glued to our phones, could we use our downtime to color or read with our kids? Instead of groaning and grumbling about a chore; what if instead we saw it as an opportunity to talk or share something we love as Jane did?

It reminds me of Michelle Craig’s story in the video “Pray for Eyes to See as He Sees.” In it, Sister Michelle Craig received a prompting to put down her phone in the grocery line and in doing so, made a connection.

I’m not suggesting that we need to be “on” all the time, that you should never do things alone, or that you shouldn’t have alone time, that would be unrealistic. (I mean, currently my kids are happily playing together in my daughters room while I write this in the hallway). But, what I am encouraging is this: pay attention to the small, simple moments and see them for what they are: opportunities for pockets of connection.

May we seek after the pockets of connection in our day.

Now tell me… what’s in your pockets? Or better yet, what are your pockets? What are those times in your day that you use (or are now determined to use) as moments for connection? I’ll meet you in the comments & share mine!

In Grandma's Pockets

The Treasure of Connection

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