Hackettstown, New Jersey

Christmas Eve was drawing near but we still wondered who we should give our jar to this season. In the past, some years there was no question about the receiver but this year was different. We considered many options but time was running out and we were busy finishing up last minute packing before we headed south to spend Christmas with family in South Carolina.

When the car was packed I slipped the jar between our luggage and gifts piled high on the back seat. When my husband asked me what I decided to do with the jar I explained that an inspiration would come to us, perhaps in our travels.

Little did I know that we would find the perfect person to receive the jar at the hotel where we stay whenever we visit our family. I don’t recall ever seeing this particular woman working as a maid at this hotel and I couldn’t help but think that she was most likely near my age or perhaps her life was such that she looked older than she really was. I wondered how I’d feel doing such laborious work even if I was ten years younger than the seventy plus I am today.

At first we tried to walk casually by her cart in the hallway and deposit the heavy mason jar filled with change, some bills and a note but she kept popping out of the room and after a while I was finding it quite amusing and wondering what she thought I was doing going back and forth so much!

After several attempts we decided to just hand the jar to her and I am so glad we did. Seeing her face was the best gift personally and it was followed by a lovely note slipped under our door the next morning that she was on duty.

What a joy to be led to someone and know you may have made them feel appreciated and special. The jar is a gift that gives back.