This is not the post I had intended to publish today. I have been working on a post about Christmas wishlists which I always enjoy putting together and get a lot of requests for. I will still post that but today it seems important to focus more on the real gifts of the season.
This weekend, I was on the receiving end of a major random act of kindness. After running errands with my guy on Saturday, I came home to find a bag on my front porch with a carefully wrapped treasure.
Let me start by explaining that I mentioned on Instagram, but not here I think, that I sadly dropped and shattered the head to my beloved owl cookie jar. I was fairly distraught about it as it was such a treasured possession and I immediately got onto Ebay and Etsy to check for a replacement but it was NOT cost effective. I tried to have a good spirit and remind myself that it was just a thing, albeit, a thing that I adored. I could barely justify the original cost and could not justify the replacement cost. I try to be zen about such things and assume it just wasn't meant to be or if it is, then it will find it's way to me. I couldn't make myself part with the bottom half of the cookie jar, so I made the most of it in the studio as a sort of vase/art display.
So, back to finding a package on my front porch. Having no idea what was in it, we brought it inside and gently unwrapped it. I could not believe my eyes! Inside was a duplicate of the very same Anthropologie owl cookie jar that I had clumsily destroyed! Who in the world would part with such a treasure?! Well, the truth is I don't know. There was a lovely note inside from a blog reader who I don't believe I've heard from before and I won't share the details of the note with you out of respect for her privacy. I could not have been more surprised or touched. All I can say is THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart. Since I can't thank you personally, I want you to know that your act of kindness will have a ripple effect this holiday season as I make it a point to pay it back to those around me. I will forever smile when I look at that beautiful cookie jar and think of your kindness. And one day if you feel like it, I'd be honored if you'd email me.
In this often harsh world, isn't it so lovely to know that there are such good hearts all around us?
What a beautiful story on this special holiday season!
ReplyDeleteThis made my heart sing! I instantly love the person who did this. She knows what is important and how to make people feel great. You are very lucky to have someone, even if you do not who, in your life. :) Kit
ReplyDeleteOh goodness me, what a lovely story, and what a beautiful act of kindness. It's funny isn't it, how you can get attached to objects, and no amount of reasoning with yourself to make yourself better when they break will help!
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I bought a Father Christmas cookie jar. I've never been into seasonal objects before, and here in the UK we don't do seasonal stuff like you guys do seasonal stuff. Suffice to say, most Christmas nic-nacs in the UK look naff! However I saw a cookie jar with a Father Christmas who looked rather vintage and had the kindest and most gentle face. It seemed everyone else thought so too and he was EXTREMELY hard to get hold of. I FINALLY got hold of one and he has taken pride of place on my shelf for the last few Christmasses. Last year I got another Father Christmas cookie jar. He was sweet, but not a patch on the first one. Fast forward to a few months ago and Big Bear decides to go in the loft computer hunting and 'smash'. He said cookie jar had croaked it. I hoped it was not so nice cookie jar, but alas, it was gentle faced cookie jar. I have been on ebay, but no such luck. I think it might be wishful thinking I will ever see him again. Like you say, you try to tell yourself 'it's just an object' and in the grand scheme of things it is. It's just typical it was THAT one that got broken. I could have lived with the second one coming a cropper! Ah well, it's now on my ebay search list of things I'm longing to find on there! ha ha! xxxx
Hmmm... some of us Brits do seasonal stuff.
DeleteWhat a lovely act of kindness. Thank you for sharing Jen!
ReplyDeleteIt is acts of kindness like this that warms my heart. What a lovely person that must be
ReplyDeleteAwwww, that’s brilliant.
ReplyDeleteOh, how thoughtful and wonderful!! I know your heart must sing every time you look at it.
ReplyDeleteAw, how kind! People amaze me. Wishing you peace and joy during this holiday season.
ReplyDeleteI love it when the Good shines through all the bad news today. Thank you for sharing your happiness--it makes me happy too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story - how wonderful that you were on the receiving end of this random act of kindness. Absolutely lovely, and especially when there is so much negativity around.
ReplyDeleteThe world is full of good and kind people. What a wonderful treat for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet thing to do. I do believe there are good hearts all around us. Thanks for sharing this one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing!
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely beautiful! Lovely lady who sent the cookie jar: Know that your act has inspired many of us to do our own acts of kindness.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderfully generous, thoughtful and loving! May the person who blessed you with this cookie jar receive blessings back ten-fold.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely thing to do for someone. Reading about this act of kindness does one's heart good.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas holidays ~ FlowerLady
Oh, Jen! I am so happy your beautiful owl found it's way back to you... home where it belongs. What a lovely gesture from one of your many adoring fanfriends!
ReplyDeleteThat really was so very thoughtful and generous and kind of the giver. May she also be richly blessed. Happy December!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet and thoughtful! Love hearing about this random act of kindness that came your way!
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart-warming story. With the kindness you put out into the world, I’m not at all surprised that kindness has come your way.
Susan
Such a wonderful and kind thing to do... s lovely story
ReplyDeleteThat is so incredibly sweet!!! What a cute cookie jar it is, also - I love it! I wonder how the reader knew where you lived?
ReplyDelete