I have two daughters - both now grown with families of their own. Raising them was tough, I was not always able to get them everything they wanted or even needed. For a good part of their lives, we were on food stamps, so simple things like pickles were a treat. So much of a treat, they actually got them as 'gifts' one year in their Christmas Stockings. As things got better, the Tradition grew - from small jars in the stocking - to the big jar of the whole dill jumbos wrapped and placed under the tree. This is continued today - each family gets a jar and they are the one gift the Grandchildren look for under the tree at our house.
Both of my girls know what it is like to struggle raising a family. They also know the power of simple gestures that can brighten someones life. And they are firm believers in "Pay It Forward" , which both have done more times than anyone knows.
Today, the youngest one - Sandi - posted the following on Facebook. Now she could have just walked away, for she truly does not have the resources to offer help. But her heart would not allow that.
Today has already been a busy day got up went and took movies back took Libby to the school to go to atlanta. Paid the water bill swoo. But the most important thing was this lady was parked beside me and she was asking if we had to b back up at the school to pick them up and we was talking she told me she had no money for her little girl to eat on today no gas to get her this afternoon wasn't going to have Christmas for her kids I was sadden by this so I took a 10 and 5 ones I had and as soon as I turned to Libby and said here Libby said u want me to take this to her don't u mom I said yes please she went over and gave it to that lady. The woman started crying and said no I can't take this I said please take it she said thank u turned and looked at her little girl and said baby now u have money to eat on today as I was leaving the lady thanked me again I said y'all have a merry Christmas. I paid it forward for all the times I had been helped out. Not just cuz it Christmas or the time of year it is if u know me I would do this any day of the week or year thanks for reading my story. I hope it touch ur heart like it did mine and always remember there is someone out there worse off then u r and if u r meant to help them god will put them in ur path to help them.
The one thing I can say I am proud of - is somehow I have taught my girls the true meaning of Christmas - that sometimes it is the little things that matter - helping - sharing - giving. It does not need to be anything big -sometimes a simple a jar of pickles can be the most important gift under the tree.
Boy, can I ever! One set of my grandparents was not quite as well off as the other set, but my granny knew I loved Spanish olives because I finished off her jar every time I visited her. So, one year for Christmas I got a huge, humungous, industrial-sized jar of Spanish olives from them. I was beyond thrilled! That simple jar of olives meant so much more to me than the pile of whatever the other grandparents gave me that year, which I can't even remember. Those olives were special because they were a symbol of our closeness and her desire to get me something only she knew I really liked. I still smile every time I buy Spanish olives. Wow. Lots of waterworks this morning. *sniff* Thanks for sharing, Sandi and Susan. :)
ReplyDeleteBrenda - funny you should mention the Spanish Olives - for they were one other thing my girls got special in their stockings ....
ReplyDeleteTo this day - both Spanish and Black olives are at every Christmas buffet here - and to this day I get misty-eyed pouring them into the bowl to set out