Day 24---A Gift Received

My last few days have been spent mostly digging out of the big East Coast snow storm. I would like to say that I had kept a close handle on my gifts but most are clearing the sidewalk for neighbors to pass, cooking some fantastic split pea soup and sharing it with friends,along with some crisp French bread, digging out the back yard for my little dog----and who knows what. So here is the story that I would like to share today----the grace of a gift received.

Today, the first mail arrived after the storm---the usual mix of junk mail and Netflix movies and a few bills---and there it was to the side of my front porch. At first I thought someone had sent me a fruitcake in that the box and the weight was right in line with that gift. Upon further examination I realized that it was a gift from a friend of mine that I had met through my best friend. I will try to hone down the story but my housemate and best friend (who is in her 70's) reconnected with her cousin (in her late 80's) about 15 years ago. I volunteered to drive her the 1 1/2 hours to meet up with her long lost relative and we became good friends. She had quite a life story, but after the death of her last husband fell on hard times and is living in subsidized senior housing and is on food stamps. Now---don't think that she is sitting around feeling sorry for herself---she is constantly thankful for her life and even with her financial and health problems, maintains a positive mindset.

Since then the three of us have met at least once a year sharing a good meal at a local restaurant and in the last few years a picnic my best friend and I would bring to her home as a celebration of life. So today the package arrived---from this kind ---upbeat lady--several jars of gourmet mustard for dipping pretzels, etc (OK, I love pretzels). I brought the gift into the house and when I opened it realized what a fantastic and meaningful gift it was---I knew that to send it to me and to her cousin was a financial sacrifice. I was floored at the kind gift, but her cousin cried. Her first reaction was---what can I send her---I said ---what I have learned from 29 Gifts is that we must learn to accept a gift and be grateful.

What I learned from this meaningful gift is that it doesn't matter how big or small the gift that I give is ---that sometimes just the act of giving is all it takes to make a difference in someones life---even if just for that moment. Cheers and Merry Christmas