Highland Village, Texas

Close to Christmas 2008 I picked up the book “Christmas Jars” from the local book store. Love quick read feel good Christmas stories around the holidays. My daughter who’s birthday is right before Christmas (14 at the time) read the book right after I did. It was so touching that we decided to start our first Christmas jar the day after Christmas that year 2008 to give Christmas Eve 2009.

We are self employed and the economy was not kind to small businesses in 2009, I was determined not to spend ANY change that year and for the most part was successful. It was funny how many times we found change on the ground to put into our jar. My husband would only contribute to the jar if he could count the money before we gave it away, needless to say he did not participate.

Closing in on Christmas Eve 2009 and still no one set to receive the jar…..a little dissapointed because I just knew someone would pop up. Attending a Christmas Eve party a story was told about a family that was to have their electricity turned off due to an outstanding bill of over $300…… On the way home my daughter and I decided that this family would receive our first ever Christmas jar.

Due to icey roads we were unable to deliver that night so we delivered Christmas night with a book. The scuddlebutt was that the jar contained almost to the penny what the electricity bill was. Inspired, I now pick up Christmas cookie jars at a discounted cost after Christmas, to set on the counter to fill, they are always full by Christmas Eve and a recipient is sent to me via friends and family.

Tonight we will be delivering our 7th jar again to someone we don’t know but they were passed on to us by a friend! This tridition has added so much joy to my family it is unmeasurable. I hope and pray that this tridition is added to every family in the spirit of good will. I am blessed that the book provided me with a renewed spirit of giving.