Some time ago I wrote an article highlighting my nephew Keaton, who had chosen me as the subject for his school assignment. He depicted me as his hero, someone who chased after her dreams and subsequently secured them. And from his perspective, he was absolutely right. I’m published. I made it happen. But from my perspective, I still have and will forever have a long way to go. It’s how goals work. You meet one, you create another. But that’s not the point of this blog post.
My nephew Sees me.
And in that spectrum of Seeing is a rainbow of adoration. Let me tell you, if you don’t already know, it’s an honor and a blessing to be treasured by a kid (ahem, “young man”–he’s 13 now!). Truckloads of cash in exchange for my writing, and it still wouldn’t compare to the wealth of Keaton Seeing me.
Here’s What Happened:
Last night, my brother and sister-in-law dropped by for an impromptu (but welcome) visit. As my brother walked towards me where I sat on the couch, I recognized the item in his hand. It was my book, “The Christmas Beagle.” Puzzled, I looked up at him.
He grinned and showed me the spine:
“…It’s a library book?”
Courtesy of your nephew, they explained to me. My eyes lit up and my jaw dropped.
Then I remembered.
Months ago, Keaton informed me he wanted to get my books into his school library. I smiled, flattered by the notion, but knew it wasn’t likely to happen. Schools, I imagined, have strict policies in place, regarding reading material they make available to their students.
“Compulse and The Voiceless are out,” I told Keaton. “They’re not really appropriate for young readers. But The Christmas Beagle…well, first someone would have to request it, then your school librarian would have to buy the book.”
I forgot about this conversation, not thinking anything would come of it. I’ll admit it, if it were me at 13, I would have forgotten about it, been distracted by a million circa-1997 kid-things. But Keaton followed through, offering evidence that my nephew is more driven and determined than I was at that age (and sometimes, at my current age, as well!).
“He wanted to be the first one to check it out,” my brother told me.
Keaton already owns a copy, but he nevertheless checked out my book from his school library, so that he could be the first one to do so. “It’s cool,” my brother said, “because other kids might read it, too.”
…Other what now? Who? Oh, other kids might read it? Maybe so, but in that moment, all I could focus on is my Biggest Fan, my nephew, my wealth and reward for all of my hard work, and the fact that he put forth effort to honor me and my writing.
I’ve made some money off of my writing, which is great. But whether it’s 30 bucks or 30 million, boasting about money is, in a lot of ways, worthless. I hope, that in your life, you are bombarded with things worth far more than money.
The real worth is in the eyes and heart of who Sees you. And my nephew…? He thinks I’m worthy. Guys…I’m filthy-rich.
Sarah Eaton 