When I rediscovered that wonderful childhood poem “The Cupboard” by Walter de la Mare, in an old poetry book, I had no idea what fun it would become for my five-year-old grandson Caleb and me. We were visiting my son in his new home. Phil had, to a child’s mind, a “portal to another kingdom” in his kitchen—a tall white cupboard in which he stockpiled just about every kind of candy there is.

Caleb would have cleaned him out if I hadn’t declared, “I am in charge of the cupboard.”

“I have a small fat grandmama,” I quoted,

“With a very slippery knee,

And she’s Keeper of the Cupboard,

With the key, key, key.

And when I’m very good, my dear,

As good as good can be,

There’s Banbury Cakes, and Lollipops

For me, me, me.”

I even had a small key with which I pretended to open the cupboard door.

Caleb, catching the spirit, eyes gleaming, recited, “When I’m very good . . . as good as good can be” every time he thought he should have a treat. Inserting the names of the goodies in Phil’s stash, he’d say, “There’s cherry twists and jelly beans for me, me, me.”

Engaging our imaginations, Caleb and I created a great memory with that poem and my son’s candy cupboard. The poem focused us on kindness and goodness in our daily interactions, because the secret of the cupboard isn’t the key or the candy . . . the secret is in what really opens the cupboard door.

Jesus, Your goodness and kindness, imparted to me, Open eternal treasures to which You hold the key.