Yesterday, my husband came home and said….."What, no Walk With Me Wednesday" pictures?? "Slackin are you?" No, I told him….. I really did go for a walk, but it was with Maggie the moose and I still haven’t figured out yet how to handle my camera and her at the same time. Maggie has become a wonderful walking companion and I am really enjoying our daily mile long walks, but sadly, no pictures 🙂 (hmmm….maybe a new pocket camera is needed)
I have always been a firm believer in what goes around comes around, whether it is good or bad. Yin and Yang. A few months ago, I struggled with a commitment I had made once I realized that it might have been a mistake. In the end, however, I knew it was the right thing to do, so I honored that commitment and said to my friends, who understood my struggle……it’s ok, I made someone smile and something good will come my way, if even in a small way…and I really meant that.
A short few weeks later, that little something good came my way. This little Isabella Fiore leather bag is something that I have lusted after from the first day I saw one, but they are outrageously expensive and no longer produced. As soon as one shows up anywhere, they are snatched up by Cavalier enthusiasts at ridiculous prices. Last month when I was at the fun match in Texas, I admired one of these bags that a woman was carrying. She told me that she had 2 of them……….and the next week, one of them was delivered to my house as a gift. I can’t tell you how thrilled and touched I was.
So that of course was a big reminder to me of just how important it is to give. Not because you will get something back in the form of a material gift, but what it gives you inside. Knowing that you made someone smile or made their life a little easier, is a gift in itself.
The year before last, I did a lot of knitgiving and got a little burnt out. It brought up a lot of old feelings from a time in my life that I truly struggle with. A time when I was the single mom of 4 children after the loss of my soon to be husband and had no choice during the Christmas holiday, than to be the recipient of charity. That was a very hard time in all of our lives.. I was incredibly grateful for the help, but sad all the same that I had to accept it…. What I do remember however, are the smiles on my children’s faces that Christmas morning. Children who had not had a lot to smile about. It made me realize then that sometimes we have to step outside ourselves and accept help and be thankful for the people who are there to lend us that hand when we need a step up with a little dignity.
I had not planned on doing any charity knitting this year…..instead I was going to knit for my family. Somehow though,looking at the red scarf I made this fall, the little hats left over from the fair and the acrylic yarn sitting in another box (perfect for children’s mittens), I was reminded of the smiles from that long ago Christmas. I know that that these small things could bring a smile to a child that will warm some other mom’s heart……..so my lace knitting project that I had planned has been set aside and the mittens are now on the needles. I am so fortunate to be in a place now that allows me reach out my hand.
Tis the season to give and when you truly give from your heart, it really does come back to you 🙂
The Woolen Rabbit 
A gift given in love brings many smiles and joyful hearts. 🙂 When I walk either of our dogs and want my hands free for picture taking I use a rope and tie it around my middle. You might like to try it if these walks are leisurely walks and not training sessions.
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A gift given in love brings many smiles and joyful hearts. 🙂 When I walk either of our dogs and want my hands free for picture taking I use a rope and tie it around my middle. You might like to try it if these walks are leisurely walks and not training sessions.
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NICE post – and how nice it is that you are in a position to be able to make the choice to be a giver this year. It always comes around in spades. 🙂
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NICE post – and how nice it is that you are in a position to be able to make the choice to be a giver this year. It always comes around in spades. 🙂
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My goodness Kim.
Lookat where you are now and where youve been.Boy that stoped me in my ungrateful tracks.
Mary Ellen
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My goodness Kim.
Lookat where you are now and where youve been.Boy that stoped me in my ungrateful tracks.
Mary Ellen
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Wow. What a contrast between your thoughtful post and the morning I had running around trying to get Christmas shopping done. Thanks so much for the reminder of what the season is all about!
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Wow. What a contrast between your thoughtful post and the morning I had running around trying to get Christmas shopping done. Thanks so much for the reminder of what the season is all about!
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Wonderful post Kim. It’s amazing how much we take for granted in life. Giving fom the heart is always the way to go. Thanks for reminding me what this season is truly all about.
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Wonderful post Kim. It’s amazing how much we take for granted in life. Giving fom the heart is always the way to go. Thanks for reminding me what this season is truly all about.
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Thank you so much for this beautiful post — it’s important to be reminded every once and a while stop and think about what giving can mean. 🙂
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Thank you so much for this beautiful post — it’s important to be reminded every once and a while stop and think about what giving can mean. 🙂
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Indeed. I gave a homeless kid the spare blankets from my van and some pocket change yesterday, after he told me he was spending the cold night on wet blankets in a field.
It made me feel a lot better about even having my van with the paint peeling off it. At least it’s running after $700 in repairs last week and it’s paid for, and I could sleep in it if I had to! Not that I couldn’t afford a nicer car, but I prefer to spend for gifts for others and a few nice things for myself, rather than look cool driving around. Besides, it’s the cheapest thing to insure my kids on…
Wish I could do more for people, but sometimes, you have to just give people what they need right then.
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Indeed. I gave a homeless kid the spare blankets from my van and some pocket change yesterday, after he told me he was spending the cold night on wet blankets in a field.
It made me feel a lot better about even having my van with the paint peeling off it. At least it’s running after $700 in repairs last week and it’s paid for, and I could sleep in it if I had to! Not that I couldn’t afford a nicer car, but I prefer to spend for gifts for others and a few nice things for myself, rather than look cool driving around. Besides, it’s the cheapest thing to insure my kids on…
Wish I could do more for people, but sometimes, you have to just give people what they need right then.
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sniff
What’s that? Oh, nothing. Just a little something in my eye.
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sniff
What’s that? Oh, nothing. Just a little something in my eye.
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A very moving post, Kim. Heartfelt and … well, right. We who are fortunate enough are obligated to others who are not. Thanks for the reminder.
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A very moving post, Kim. Heartfelt and … well, right. We who are fortunate enough are obligated to others who are not. Thanks for the reminder.
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Excellent, Kim. And such timing. I guess these thoughts are on all our minds these days.
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Excellent, Kim. And such timing. I guess these thoughts are on all our minds these days.
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Thanks for reminding us that generousity really makes a difference in the lives of people: a difference for those that receive kindness as well as a difference for those that give.
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Thanks for reminding us that generousity really makes a difference in the lives of people: a difference for those that receive kindness as well as a difference for those that give.
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What a wonderful perspective! You make the world a better place.
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What a wonderful perspective! You make the world a better place.
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I don’t usually knit for other people, but recently I’ve been finishing a hat here or a shawl there and understanding who they were for after the fact. And wrapping someone else in your work and time and love is…really good. It makes me feel…light.
Sometimes it is very hard indeed to let go, but the rewards are remarkable.
Thank you.
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I don’t usually knit for other people, but recently I’ve been finishing a hat here or a shawl there and understanding who they were for after the fact. And wrapping someone else in your work and time and love is…really good. It makes me feel…light.
Sometimes it is very hard indeed to let go, but the rewards are remarkable.
Thank you.
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