Each day, laptop and children permitting, I’ll share a prompt that’s been on my mind, and a few of my thoughts.
You are welcome to share your own perspective in the comments, or just journal it out!
Have you ever given or received a gift that changed your life?
I heard a story that made me happy cry this morning.
Andrea Wilkinson visited with my friend Hillary about keeping the holidays simple, and she shared an experience about giving Christmas to a single mom one year.
It’s a real tear-jerker.
So, of course, I thought, I could use more stories like that in my life!
And, where better to turn than to all of you?
So, I’d love to know – has someone ever given you a gift that changed your life? Have you ever given a gift that changed your life?
If you’d rather share via email, you can reach us at: ofprogressandpurpose@gmail.com. If I get enough submissions maybe Joe and I will compile them into an read-in episode for the holidays.
I know it’s been a crazy year, but I’m so grateful we have each other.
❤ Jenny
I was in the beginning stages of a relationship with a guy named Joe. He had told me that he loved me, but as a friend. Our relationship deepened as we got to know each other more, and one day he asked, “How do you know if you’re in love with someone?”
I said, “Well, to be ‘in love’ would probably take both people feeling the same way.”
He said, “Well, I think I’m in love with you.”
I said, “I think I’m in love with you too.”
We were in a relationship for the next 4 years until he died in January 2019. The gift he gave me was his love, and I never loved anyone–before or since–in the same way.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m sorry for your loss, Brandon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love is the most precious gift I know. I’m so sorry for your loss, friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Story time… (I might be getting the first paragraph wrong, because I don’t know those people and I heard that story secondhand over a decade ago)
At some point in the 90s, there was a mixed-race couple in this area who had no one to spend Christmas with. Both of them came from very traditional families that didn’t accept their marriage at first. So on Christmas Eve, they had dinner alone in a greasy diner in Capital City, and since they had no family to share gifts with, they left a $50 tip for the waitress. Over time, the families eventually came around and started inviting the couple to Christmas again. But they got a group of friends together and continued their Tip Night tradition. Every year, they would all go to some non-classy restaurant and encourage people to bring extra money so they could leave huge tips for the wait staff and the cooks.
Some friends of theirs who live in my neighborhood started doing their own spin-off Tip Night a few years later. I moved here in 2006 and got involved with a neighborhood Internet community, and I heard about Tip Night from them. I went every year from 2006 to 2011, I think. The web site fizzled after that, being redundant in the days of social media, and the original organizers of Tip Night stopped doing it. I don’t know if it’s going on anymore (well definitely not this year because of COVID, but I don’t know if it happened in 2012 through 2019). And I don’t know if this counts as life-changing, but it’s the first thing I thought of.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a thoughtful thing to do for someone else!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Right?!
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a cool idea! I want to do that someday. I have family that is waitstaff and I’ve heard some pretty neat stories from them, too. I want to try it sometime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When Jenny posed the question of time someone gave me a gift that changed my life, I thought of a moment back when I was 16.
My parents had become bankrupt, we had sold our house and belongings, and we were strapped for the money needed to rent a place to live. We had been homeless for several months, living in people’s garages and in caravans. Eventually, a kind monk at a temple gave my mum $200. It was enough for some food and a deposit for a rental place to live. It changed the direction of our future.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is huge. How kind! And I can’t imagine going through that at such a young age. Honestly, I was thinking of this because our local Salvation Army is out of funds due to covid. A lot of the organizations designed to help people in need were hit hard this year. We have been so blessed, but we’ve been trying to think of ways we can help within our budget. Especially at Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think there will be many families struggling these days. It’s hard to know how to help. Volunteering can be a way to contribute? Or even donating old toys or clothes that are in good condition can help.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Volunteering is a great idea! I bagged four big bags to go to a local organization here, too, great thinking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve bagged several bags myself!
LikeLiked by 1 person