Bedford, Texas

It had been a rough week. I am a grad student and it seemed like the world was against me as I struggled to locate and sustain a practicum site. I wasn’t in the mood for Christmas and my thoughts were consumed with school and clinical requirements to graduate. I was in my own little world and I am sure I was damping the Christmas mood for my family, friends and coworkers.

I was leaving the parking lot to enter a pizza place- a black truck, with dark tinted windows pulled up next to me to allow the other traffic to continue to flow. The window on the passenger side was lowered and a lady asked if she could give me something – I hesitated for a second because of the dark windows and I couldn’t see into the back of the truck but nothing felt threatening about her or the situation so a made a few more steps and said “yes” she gave me a copy of the book, “Christmas Jars”.

After I saw the title I thought that’s nice, she’s giving away Christmas Stories but then she reached down and pulled out a jar and gave it to me. I could see it contained coins and bills. If she hadn’t been in the truck I would have hugged her. Then the window in back of truck lowered it was an older lady and she said “Merry Christmas” and the men driving also spoke the words Merry Christmas.

It wasn’t the money in the jar it was the act of kindness that touched me. It reminded me of the importance of giving and being grateful. It reminded me that kindness and goodness still exist in this world. I thank those strangers for reminding me of the reason for Christmas and that I should have this thought not just during the season but throughout the year.

I plan to start a jar December 26th and give my first jar in December 2017.