Idea of the Month from Barbara Glanz
Send an Anonymous Gift of Cheer
This idea is excerpted from Barbara's book CARE Packages for the
Home--Dozens of Ways to Regenerate Spirit Where You Live. To order
this book which is no longer available from the publisher, go to the Product
section of our website: www.barbaraglanz.com. Although this idea is from
the book on regenerating spirit in the home, it is also a great idea for
the workplace.
THE IDEA:
It is fun to give surprise gifts that are anonymous and that make the
receiver wonder who might have been the one to remember them.
THE IDEA IN ACTION:
Sylvia Marshall writes about the impact an anonymous gift had on her life:
During a period of great personal despair, a subscription to a small
monthly Prayer Book filled with special prayers throughout the calendar
month was mailed to me for about a year. I never did find out who sent
this to me, but I can tell you I valued that little book. I still have
certain pages that I tore out and saved as a keepsake. Some days were
harder than others, and the passages in each of the daily pages seemed
to hold significance for me alone. It sustained me during those times.
I'm so very grateful to that special person who heard my cry and answered
my prayers.
**********
Last summer when I went to the front door to get the mail, there was a
darling little basket in the door filled with 5 or 6 baggies of goodies--cookie
cutter cookies, brownies, Jordan almonds, and even tea bags. On top was
a little poem that read:
"THIS LITTLE BASKET COMES TO SAY,
YOU'RE A SPECIAL FRIEND IN EVERY WAY.
PASS IT ALONG, BUT DON'T GET CAUGHT.
DO IT IN SECRET AS JESUS TAUGHT!"
I was deeply touched! I enjoyed the treats and then refilled the basket
with things I love and left it in another friend's door when I knew she
would be away. I thought and thought about who sent it, but I never have
found out who was my special messenger...
TIPS:
Anyone could do either of these things in their family, neighborhood,
or school. You may want to change the faith orientation in the basket
poem to one which is comfortable for you, or make up your own poem. I
loved filling the basket with things I treasured like the little plastic
chocolate-covered spoons, special herbal tea bags, several wrapped Godiva
chocolates, a tiny book of quotations, and Pepperidge Farm goldfish!
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