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11:11:00 PM EST
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing Enya "Amid The Falling Snow"
Any Jar Will Do...
"A million feathers falling down,
A million stars that touch the ground,
So many secrets to be found
Amid the falling snow". Enya
Sometimes late at night, I stay awake staring into the dark, lost in my silence and contemplation. Sigh...the world will always hold it's disdain and struggles. I'm but one of millions of individuals taking up space, breathing , trying to hold my head up above the waves of worry. These nights, I find I can't for the life of me quiet my mind. The beginning signs of becoming overwhelmed, lay in the recesses of my mind threatening to pull me down into despair. Life is such a delicate balance of keeping afloat. When did we become a world based on equity? Without a financial backdrop, we live from paycheck to paycheck, hoping against the odds of losing home and all it's comforts. I know inside, despite the doubts we are better off than most, yet it doesn't silence the worry.
These thoughts are what made me think of something I had read over the holidays. At the time it was almost amusing to me, to find myself reading this type of material. I assume, credit is due to the sappiness of the spirit of goodwill around that time prodding me to purchase the book. Just thinking about it, brings about a feeling of warmth and contentment. Perfect to calm the sea of turmoil whirling amidst my thoughts. I savored the feeling, finally allowing sleep to close my tired eyes. The next morning, I dug through the piles of books I had strewn all about the house here and there, in pursuit of the allusive book that had struck a cord with me the night before. Aha! There it was amongst the pile I had next to my bedside table. I held it in my hands for a few moments, before coming to a decision.
Perhaps, I should first explain the book - give you a description so you can better understand what I had decided for myself. The book is the, "Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright. I'm trying to find a way to describe it in such a way as to not give the entire gist of the story away. In simplest terms a jar of coins is left on the doorstep of someone in need on Christmas Eve. The person the jar is left to, never knows who it's beneficiary is. In the same token the beneficiary never truly knows the amount of coins in the jar. It could be anywhere from $10 to a couple of hundred, depending how many coins where saved throughout the year. The entire pretense is to give without anything in return, even a Thank you. The jar is left to someone who needs it more than you.
Any jar will do! You may use any size, color, or texture from clay to glass. If you should happen to fill one jar up before Christmas Eve, there are no rules against starting another. Basically you take all your spare change and put it in the jar whenever you empty your pockets or change purse at night. The only rule is you never take any money out of the jar unless it's for change for a dollar amount, which is put back in the jar in bill form. So what does the jar have to do with me? As long as I have change, even if it's pennies to put in that jar, I'm not as bad off as I think I am. Everytime I look at the Christmas Jar, it will be a reminder I'm ok, there is someone else out there that will need that more than I. Not only is the jar giving me hope, but hope for someone else when they need it most.
For those of you who have children still living at home, it's a wonderful lesson in giving. You could even encourage your children to want to put change in the Christmas Jar. This isn't just a novel, but has become a tradition since it was first introduced by the author. If you check out the author's website, you will find true life stories that originated with the Christmas Jar. It's what I need at this time in my life, something to remind me that I am able to put a few coins in a jar, not yet desperate enough to need them for myself. Strange as it may seem, I have had a smile on my face since making that decision to set up a Christmas Jar in my own home. Who will be the recipient? Time will tell, there is always someone who will need it more.
“It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.” Anthony Robbins
From my spirit to yours, stay safe and loved! Indigo
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Giving anonymously is the best~! Then it's just for the sake of giving and not the thanks or personal attention.
xoxo -
Again you have impressed me! Fabulous idea and one to pass around.
Thank you!
RJ -
Great suggestion. We used to have one of those large water bottles that are delivered with a water service. Boy was that fun to drop change into. At the end of the year we really made out great!
Jo
http://frequentlyfeline.blogspot.com/ -
Hubby & I have always saved our change in 2 change/banks all year. On NY's Day, we empty them, count it and have always paid a bill/s off like a credit card. One year, we had a few pmts left on our car and paid it off. I'll use one of them as a "Christmas Jar" to help someone else. Thanks for the idea.
Hugs,
D
http://journals.aol.com/heavenlybama/journey-to-success
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3/16/08 7:38 AM
Gaz xxx