Small plastic sheep with bright bells were my grandmother’s birthday gift for years, and I thought they were strange. I thought it was a strange habit that showed her memory was getting worse. But I had no idea that each sheep had a secret message that was part of a bigger story of love and support.
My family loved me a lot because I was the youngest of three children. Still, my grandmother’s love for me no matter what shone out. Since I was seven years old, she gave me a toy sheep every year. It was fun for me to act like I was surprised.
Grandma gave my mom one last sheep before she died, and she gave it to me after she died. Putting it next to the others made me feel a mix of sadness and longing.
“You haven’t figured it out yet?” my brother Sheldon asked. He told me to look under the sheep, and I did. I found a message that was hard to read: “I love you” followed by numbers.
It looked like a code was in the numbers. Sheldon said that putting them in order would tell a secret. I wrote down the numbers that corresponded to the years I got the sheep.
In the last word, it said, “Go to the bank.” I found out at the bank that my grandmother had made a savings account in my name when I was born and was putting money in it every year. The sum was more than $120,000.
But there was more: my name was on a safety deposit box. I found a letter from Grandma written by hand inside. She told me about her smart plan to protect my money and keep me safe from possible crooks.
As I realised how much she loved me, tears came easily. I made tea with two spoons of sugar and told her I was thankful at her grave. “Thank you, Nan. “I’ll make you happy.” At that very moment, I could feel her.
The plastic sheep, which were once a strange custom, became a sign of my grandmother’s love and foresight. Her influence makes me want to enjoy every moment with my family and friends.
I understood that family is more than blood ties; it’s also about the love and sacrifices people make for each other. The story about my grandma makes me remember to value the people who are most important to me.
