Paying Attention as an Act of Love
A package of athletic socks was all it took.
We were newly married, and life felt a bit fast. Both of us were juggling new careers (Ben working many late nights in the recording studio and me teaching sophomore English at a rural high school down the road). We hadn’t been prioritizing time together, but I didn’t realize how lonely I’d become.
Until one day, Ben brought home a package of socks.
I held the six-pack of white Reeboks in my hands and looked up at him with curiosity, “What’s this?”
“I noticed your socks were looking pretty worn out, so I stopped and got you new ones at lunch.”
Tears immediately spilled down my face. Ben stood there stunned, uncertain what kind of emotion was spewing out of me. I wiped my nose, began to laugh, and threw my arms around his neck. I could feel the tension drain from his shoulders as he realized I was more than happy about the socks.
To this day, white athletic socks remain my favorite. Sure, they’re comfortable as heck, but they’re also packed with meaning—every pair pointing back to this moment of unprompted love. A moment that stands out 15 years later as one of the times I felt most seen and known by another human.
Mother Theresa once said that “love, to be real, must cost”—but that doesn’t mean it has to be flashy. Sometimes, all it takes is a little paying attention, a short stop at the local Kmart, and six pairs of brand-new socks.
feature image by Livi Po via unsplash