Lucky with Four-Leaf Clovers
How Many 4-Leaf Clovers Do You See?
Ever since I can remember, I have been able to find four-leaf clovers. Perhaps my mother taught me to look for them. My mother was raised in the country, gathered wild greens in the spring, and planted a few vegetables and flowers in a small garden.
My daughter learned from me and also looks for and easily finds the special clovers. I expect she will pass along this simple skill to my five-year old grandson once he learns to focus on one thing for more than a few minutes at a time.
I used to gather the clovers in a bouquet and place them in a small glass where they stayed for several days. I would occasionally put one in my billfold to remind me to think positively. I would boast that I could see a four-leaf clover when I was walking and bend down to pick it while not missing a step.
Five-leaf clovers were pretty common, too, but I usually didn’t pick them as the superstition said they brought bad luck.
When we lived in Louisville, I had an idea to gather many four-leaf clovers and sell them for two dollars each to people going to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. I never carried out that plan. Now I think I would raise the price to five dollars.
Eventually, I had found so many four-leaf clovers that I began to look for clovers with six, seven, or eight leaves. Those were very rare, but I found a few of each. I found one seven-leaf clover on an Easter outing in Italy 25 years ago.
Now when I find a four-leaf clover, I almost always give it away. The luck is in giving it to another– not keeping it for oneself. Holding on to a four-leaf clover may even bring bad luck– as often happens in our life when we fail to share our stories and gifts.
I try to give the four-leaf clover to the first person I see after I find it. I don’t want to hold it too long. Some of the people I give it to, such as a stranger on the street, are a bit defensive at first, but quickly smile after I follow the clover with a simple wish that they have a lucky day.
Once, the first person I encountered after finding a four-leaf clover was a man beside his broken-down car that I encountered on my walk to work. Judging from his car and dress, I could tell he was poor. He seemed overwhelmed at the situation. I gave him the clover and he immediately brightened up. He became excited and animated and thanked me profusely. He really believed in four-leaf clovers! I had only wanted to give him hope to get through his immediate difficulty. But I left afraid that he might take his new luck and do something foolish or spend too much money on lottery tickets.
I hope you will be lucky today and share your good luck with a friend or a stranger.
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