Carry Seeds in Your Pockets

Do you know the story of Miss Rumphius? It is one of my all time favorite children's books. I have fond memories of reading this to my kids. Maybe you'll like it too.

"Miss Rumphius," illustrated and written by Barbara Cooney, is the story of a fictional woman who cast lupine seeds wherever she went. She carried the seeds in her pockets and spread them at every opportunity. To the Post Office, the library, to a friend's home, out for a long walk. Even all over the world! She did it in secret. But in the wake of her travels would sprout beautiful lupine the following spring. The flowers would return year after year and bless others for generations.

The best part is, "Miss Rumphius" was a real woman. Her name was Hilda Edwards Hamlin. She arrived in Maine from England in 1904 as a 15 year old young woman. Hilda grew to become a scholar, mother, and world traveler. In the summers she would stay in a little cottage on the coast of Christmas Cove, Maine. And that's where it all started.

She ordered lupine seed from her England home land and secretly began casting it wherever she went. Thus began the beautification of her small quaint Maine village. Most people didn't know of her hidden obsession, but over time the secret got out. She was kind of crazy about it (love that!) and became known in her later years as The Lupine Lady. She was even known to throw lupine seed out the window of moving vehicles! Lupine is not native to Maine, but boy does it grow there now!

It wasn't elaborate. It was actually very simple. She had an idea. She didn't ask permission to bless Maine with beauty. She just did it. With intention. Til she was old and gray. It wasn't flashy. She didn't mention it. But over time, her faithful sowing reaped abundant stunning beauty that carries on to this day. Just one woman, 100 years ago.

How about you? What seeds are you scattering? I'm guessing it's not lupine seed, but it's likely just as lovely. Is it your smile you do not withhold? Is it your intentional eye contact with the store clerk? Is it those encouraging cards you put in the mail when no one sends cards anymore? The extra minutes you carve out to snuggle your children in the morning? Maybe it's your quiet listening that doesn't try to fix the person in front of you.

Please, don't take these things lightly. They are what is needed most in this weary world. Pretty sure Hilda would agree.

These days you'll find me in the flower fields. I have an ever growing patch of lupine that started from seed I planted years ago. Purplish blue, ombre pink, and this year even yellow ones. When I take a moment, they remind me. They say, "Every little act of kindness, every unseen act of love makes a difference. Those small seeds matter."

So, thank you Hilda Hamlin. You inspire us. 100 years later, we're following in your footsteps and scattering seed of our own.