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Nana Alene’s
Clootie Tree
Written by Patricia Rodriguez
Photo © Lensman 300 | Dollar Photo Club

One Saturday morning while
cleaning, I found a beautiful
wooden box under my Nana’s
bed. The lid of the box had
small, colorful flowers
carved into it.

“What’s in this box?”
I asked Nana. “My treasures,
sweet girl.” “Can I see them?”
I asked. “Yes, but after we finish
cleaning,” Nana answered.

Finally, we finished cleaning
Nana’s bedroom and I
quickly placed the box
on her bed. She nodded
and I opened the box.

My eyes were drawn to a small
cat with green sparkling eyes.
Nana told me it is made
of porcelain and was given to her
by a special friend on her 10th
birthday.

Then, Nana picked up her
engagement ring and placed it
on my finger. It slipped right off,
falling into the treasure box
which made us both giggle.

Next, I picked up a baby jar
filled with water and seashells.
Nana Alene told me it was
collected by her mother from the
ocean on the day of her baptism.
When I shook the jar,
I could see the sand and shells
swirling in the water.

Then I noticed an item which
seemed out of place, so I picked
it up to show it to Nana.

It was a strand of faded cloth.
Nana took hold of the other end.
Nana began to tell the story of
the clootie tree.

When she was a young girl
living in Ireland, her Aunt Nessa
became ill. As was the custom,
Nana Alene cut a piece of cloth
from her aunt’s pink-colored robe
and dipped it in the water of the
well near the clootie tree.

Nana offered a prayer asking for
God’s healing spirit to help her
aunt, and then tied the cloth to
the clootie tree.

As the rose color faded from
many days spent blowing in the
sun and wind, God’s healing
spirit comforted her aunt.

Nana explained to me
that Aunt Nessa could see the
clootie tree from her bedroom
window, and when Nana came to
visit, they would watch the cloth
blowing in the wind.

One morning, when Nana was
snuggling with her Aunt Nessa,
she explained to Nana that when
you pray asking for God’s
healing, the Holy Spirit responds
with a blessing.

“Blessings come in many shapes
and forms, Alene,” explained
Aunt Nessa. Watching the cloth
blowing in the wind under the
bright sunlight brought comfort to
Aunt Nessa because it sang to
her each day of God’s love.

Nana told me
Aunt Nessa shared her favorite
scripture with her.

“Remember, Alene, there is
nothing in all of creation, not
even death or life, or the world
above or below, that can
separate us from God’s love
which is ours through Christ.”

When Aunt Nessa died, Nana
removed the cloth and placed
it in her treasure box. Nana
would hold the cloth when she
yearned for her Aunt Nessa.

Several years later, when Nana
Alene became sick, I cut a piece
of her robe and tied it to a tree.
I created my own clootie tree.

If I close my eyes, I can still see
the faded strand of cloth blowing
in the wind and hear her voice
whispering, “Never forget that
nothing can separate you from
the love of God.”

As Nana physically faded away,
the Holy Spirit blessed us all with
strength, comfort, and joy.

Nana Alene began to understand
that healing comes from God’s
constant presence in our lives
and the love of our family
and friends. Healing isn’t only
physical. Healing most often
comes in the form of peace when we
recognize God is with us during all
our joys and sorrows.

The Holy Spirit encourages us to
embrace love because it is
triumphant.

And so the
story continues
to blow in the
wind, singing
love’s triumph
over all.

�ݺ�ߣ

Clootie tree

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