Rachel thought that her wedding would be the best way to show off how well she was doing. It would be at a big place with a lot of people, and everything would be great. But she knew it wasn’t true when she said no to her grandmother’s strange, small present. She had to deal with what she had thrown away since she felt sad days later. She found out something that almost broke her inside a dusty bag of walnuts.
Rachel’s grandma, Jen, took care of her more than her parents did. Rachel’s parents were always anxious about their jobs, their money, and their position. Grandma Jen’s small house gave her the peace and security she needed.
It was easy to live in an old house. The porch creaked when you walked on it, and the air smelled like lavender. The kitchen always smelled of potatoes, eggs, or sausages that someone had made with affection. Every night, Grandma would sit with Rachel and give her a tiny bowl of walnuts. She would then say sweetly, “Sweetheart, eat these.” They’ll make your heart stronger.
Rachel had a cardiac condition when she was born that needed surgery and treatment for a few years. She had a scar on her chest from the struggle, but Grandma always made her feel strong. Rachel was healthy, strong, and loved by her grandma.
But the comfort of infancy gives way to the need for money and looks. Rachel began to care about what her parents thought as she got older. Designer clothes, ski trips, and summers spent abroad took the place of quiet nights at Grandma’s. The house that smelled like lavender used to be nice, but now it looked old and little. Rachel came over less often, and when she did, she would look at her phone as they talked and even make fun of the smell she used to appreciate.
Grandma still called every week, and her voice was always calm and soothing. She never yelled at Rachel or said anything harsh. She told her to take her heart medicine and closed every call with the same thing: “Be kind, sweetheart.” The world is already too mean.
Rachel and Grant were engaged years later. He came from a wealthy family and was everything her parents wanted in a man. There were going to be 500 guests at their wedding, designer dresses, star catering, and a place that was full of luxury. At first, Rachel didn’t want to invite her grandma because she feared she wouldn’t “fit in.” But her mom made her put Grandma Jen on the guest list, even though she didn’t want to.
Everyone else was dressed up in tuxedos and beautiful gowns, but Grandma wore a modest blue frock. She had a ripped and dirty cloth bag in the corner. The shoes she wore didn’t go together.
She handed the bag to her granddaughter and said, “My Rachel.” “Please open it soon; it’s a gift from me.” There is something unexpected inside.
Rachel peeked inside. Nuts. The walnuts were old, dusty, and easy to break.
She was so humiliated that her cheeks felt like they were on fire. “Are you kidding me? You gave me a bag of nuts? “To my wedding?”
“These are special,” Grandma murmured in a low voice, and her eyes lit up.
But Rachel’s voice got louder. “It’s a filthy bag.” This is a very strange situation.
The music kept playing, but the stress was getting worse. People turned around, feeling nervous. Rachel’s mom was shocked and put her hand over her mouth. Grandma Jen didn’t smile back for the first time in her life. She nodded a little, leaned on the table to keep her balance, and then walked out without saying anything.
Rachel said to herself that she didn’t care. Rachel went mad when her grandma called days later to see if she had opened the present. “Quit bothering me with dumb things.” They’re just nuts. “I’ll do it when I can.”
Grandma never phoned back.
Rachel’s mom contacted two months later to tell her that Grandma Jen had died of heart failure. Rachel really lost it at the funeral. The smell of lavender in the air and her grandmother’s hands crossed in the coffin were too much for her. She couldn’t deal with the guilt.
Rachel searched for the cloth bag that night, but she didn’t think she’d find it. There were the walnuts she had thrown away without thinking. She shook it to open it.
“Rachel, be kind” was written inside. The world can be tough, but don’t let it affect who you are.
She ripped apart another one and found $20 in cash inside. “Rachel, save” was written in one of them. Put money away for the future.
Rachel’s grandma showed her how much she loved her by sending her money she had saved for her, carefully written advice, and other items that reminded her of how close they used to be. Every knot held years of thought, work, and love.
Rachel opened the last walnut with tears in her eyes. It said, “My sweet girl, we all mess up.” You should be forgiven. “Love is always a choice.”
Rachel fell to the ground, crying and clutching the note to her chest.
Her grandma gave her more than just money. She had given her knowledge, time, and one last chance to change.
A few weeks later, Rachel was in her kitchen peeling potatoes in the early morning. She made the simple meals Grandma used to make, such scrambled eggs, sausages, and buttery potatoes, and put them on the table without any extra decorations. For the first time in years, she felt little, humble, and thankful.
Rachel now knew that love isn’t about how much money someone has or how they appear. In a hushed voice, she thanked her grandmother for her memories. Sometimes it’s in the little things, like broken walnuts, quiet breakfasts, and the fact that you knew someone was always there for you and never gave up on you.
She couldn’t change what had already happened, but she could respect her grandmother’s last wish: to always be pleasant, no matter how awful things became.