Therapists aren't supposed to give gifts to clients. Because I'm working with families that are quite poor and I'm looking around their apartments wanting them to have a good Holiday season, I've been frustrated that I can't do my secret santa blessings, especially for some of the kids.
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So I did the next best thing, and I make no apologies. I e-mailed some select friends and asked for money. We'll call it "contributions." I explained that I wanted to purchase art supplies for a certain 12 year old girl who was likely to have very little on Christmas morning.
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The response was abundant. Within a week or so, I had $ 145. Ten dollars here, five dollars there, a check for twenty, a card with well wishes, a box with scissors and colored pencils, a sketch pad and electric pencil sharpener. JB and I went to the local art store and $ 95 later we had a huge bag of art-everything.
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Today I took the huge bag to "Lulu's" mom. Plus a plain white envelope with two 20's and one 10: fifty dollars to use for whatever will make Christmas a family affair.
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I wish you could have been there. Mom was quiet as she picked up and looked at every single thing.
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"Will it help?" I asked.
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"Oh yeah," she said. "It sure will."
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My heart is sad this holiday season, for good reason. It sucks to love someone who doesn't love you back. But today, my heart stepped outside myself and let the kindness of good people show the way.
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I am privileged to have delivered this huge bag today. Thank God I know that much.
Isn't it a shame we can't do more for people who can ill afford things at Christmas. We have 'wishing trees' here in most supermarket chains and the public are encouraged to take a tag and buy a present. The tag outlines th sex and age of the person . . . a nice cooperative touch I think. Good on you kj for sharing the love a bit.
ReplyDeleteYou are very dear to put together this wonderful creative package for Lulu. You have brought joy into her life. I am sorry you love someone who doesnt love you back. That sounds hard and it is affecting your feelings during this often difficult holiday at best. You know there are Buddhist meditations that can help with pain and the helpless feeings around emotions that sometimes arise. One is called Tong Len, in which one breathes in pain and sadness and breathes out comfort. One can do this for oneself, for a friend or for someone who doesnt love you back or whatever. Breathe in your pain or their pain, breathe out comfort whatever that might mean to you.
ReplyDeletePema Chodron has some good tapes about tong len. I noticed your Tibet flag on your blog which is partly why I bring this up. Perhaps you practice?? Be well, namaste and hugs Suki
So heartwarming ... :) I love that you did this and reached out ... a true Christmas gift!
ReplyDeleteI'm so touched by this giving KJ. And you gave them more than "stuff." You gave them hope. You can't put a price on that.
ReplyDeleteBless you and your friends for that gift!
hmmm, word veri=lendurs
:)
baino, we have that the same thing in u.s. supermarkets. what was so great about this was the one-on-one contact--seeing the appreciation on the mom's face.
ReplyDeletesuki, wise woman, you are. thank you. but may i breathe in the comfort and breathe out the pain and sadness? that sounds easier!
melissa, and you my friend were a guardian angel!
lolo, the gift that keeps on giving... :)
You're a star!
ReplyDelete(hugs) x
Lovely. May it get easier to bear as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteI believe reaching out to others is the best way to cure our own broken hearts. I am a complete wimp when it comes to love, so loving someone that doesn't love you back seems incredibly brave to me.
ReplyDeleteRules...sometimes its best to break them - you did a great thing, and Im sure it will be long remembered by both of them, Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI hope your heart will heal quickly, and twice as strong as before...it hasnt diminished the size of your heart at all - good onya!
miladysa, you're a star too. love babe
ReplyDeletecs, you too. xo
debra kay, you amaze me. thanks for the way you see things...
lavender, thanks so much. xo
kj I recommend just listen to the Pema Chodron tapes or reading one of her bks. You can of course do anything you want, breathe in comfort and out pain. But this particular tibetan meditation is to do the opposite. You breathe in the dark and transform it within and then breathe out comfort and light into the world, giving that to those who are suffering. It is shocking i guess to many who have never heard of this before. Yet, ....it is very powerful. and why send out more pain into the world, why not send out comfort? It is a matter of alchemy, turning lead to gold.
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