A couple of years ago, right around the time Paul and I got engaged, I read a book called The Jew Store by Stella Suberman. It is a memoir of her childhood growing up as a member of the only Jewish family living in the rural South in the early 1920′s. Suberman’s father, Aaron Bronson, was a Russian immigrant who settled in New York City and hated city life. He longed for the beautiful farmlands of his native country and when an opportunity arose to manage a dry goods store in Concordia, TN, he jumped at the chance.  Suberman’s mother was beside herself. Not only did she fear for her family’s safety, she was concerned her children would not get a proper Jewish education. She went to her mother for advice, hoping she would be her allie. Instead her mother told her, “Go. Be a warm stone in your husband’s pocket.” When I read those words I made a vow to always be a warm stone in my husband’s pocket.

Valentine’s Day was a few weeks later, our first together, and I had a great idea for the perfect gift for Paul. I found a flat, smooth stone and I had it engraved with the words, “I promise to always be a warm stone in your pocket.” (In case you are wondering where I got it engraved, I went to the same trophy store where I always get my kids’ soccer trophies.) When I gave it to him I told him the origin of the saying. Paul keeps the stone on his night stand and whenever times get tough, or we have a disagreement about something, he often says to me, “Be a warm stone in my pocket.” It reminds me of my vow and it strengthens our bond as a couple because we know we are standing back to back; a warm stone in each other’s pocket.