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Welcome to Stuff I Learned Yesterday. My name is Mandy Wichert. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and I’ll soon tell you why and I believe if you aren’t learning, you aren’t living.
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What I Learned Yesterday:
Last week, I was in a mad rush, leaving the house to drop off my oldest at school, then planned to head directly to the gym. When I pulled out, I noticed a large box propped against our front door. It was white and long and not at all inconspicuous, so I realized I would need to make a quick trip back home to pull it inside before completing any more errands. I wasn’t expecting any large packages, but assumed that it must be something for my husband. I announced to my girls the plans that we were going to head back home, to pull the package inside and was immediately swamped with questions about the box’s contents. I explained that I didn’t know and that I wasn’t quite sure.
When he got back home, I hopped out of the car and quickly noticed the words “Christmas Tree” on the box and realized what was happening. I started crying and my kiddos saw me. I pulled the box inside and when I got back into the car, I announced that we had received a Christmas tree from someone special and that we would now be able to get it out and decorate it. My car lit up with excitement, and again more questions about who and how? It was an excellent surprise.
Then, the next day, while bringing in the mail, I noticed that we had received a card from “Secret Santa” and inside was a gift card for movies. Another tear-jerker moment. Not to be outdone, we later received gift cards to places to eat out and shopping! All from Secret Santa, and I suspect more than than one Secret Santa.
My good friend called me one evening noticing that there was a new outdoor ice skating rink in our town, and invited me along. We went after the kids were in bed, and she treated me. It was hilarious and so much fun. We had the entire ice skating rink to ourselves and were able to twirl and spin and skate around like crazy people with no audience and without the responsibility of protecting others while doing it. It was such a sweet gift.
Then my birthday came. It was yesterday. I was not anticipating much, and don’t expect a huge-to-do on my birthday, but my husband and kids surprised me with a cake they had picked out just for me and a few early morning gifts. Then, Facebook lit up with wishes of cheer for my birthday from all over, and my wonderful friend invited me over to her home for lunch. She kept asking about the time, and said she had a favor she needed me to help her with once I arrived. When she opened the door to greet me, her home was dark and relaxing music was playing. There were candles lit. She gave me and my daughters each a robe to tie on over our clothes and when we walked in further, there was a banner that said, “Happy Spa Day”. She had fresh fruit laid out and a tub for soaking our feet, as well as pumices and lotions and face masks and nail polish.
We took turns on our own faces and hands and feet, then painted 30 tiny fingers and toes. Her son didn’t participate in spa day, but was an excellent helper and good sport for the entire event! It was a wonderful surprise and much needed break from everyday stress. Later that evening we were able to celebrate with our church group and had a party and gift exchange where I won some great Christmas directions. And last night, I got to celebrate with my extended family over dinner.
I have felt so special and celebrated. More so this year than any other. I have been on the receiving end of so much giving and these gestures have not gone unnoticed! I have been completely overwhelmed by all of the love that everyone has been lavishing on my family and me. If you have in any way had any part of this, Thank you!!
Here’s What I Learned:
This season has been harder than many, but it has also been extremely rewarding. People are so good. Friends are so good. Strangers are so good. I feel extremely blessed and humbled and grateful to be part of a community that is willing to reach out and share. I had just finished reading a lesson in my bible study asking that if we were to be receivers at some point, would we then be more likely to turn around and give lavishly when we had the opportunity, knowing how much we ourselves had been blessed by it? That has stuck with me as we’ve begun this Christmas season. I love to give gifts. I enjoy the time it takes to think of a special gift for a friend that they need or that I know that they would enjoy. I enjoy giving to people who don’t have as much and I think as recipients we are also blessed by knowing that what we are giving is being appreciated.
It has been hard for me not to be able to give in the ways that I have been able to in the past, but it has opened me up to a new blessing. Receiving. I am so humbled that so many Secret Santa’s have taken time out to think of our family, and to bless us in such a variety of ways. My life feels so rich and so full, and my whole family feels so thankful. Community is the best gift that we could be given.
As we approach the holidays I am so thankful for those here in my town, those that I grew up with, those that I’ve met along the way, those that I don’t know in person, but have a connection with through Golden Spiral Media, those that I know through my online communities, and those that I know through my children and husband. I am praying that you all know the tangible love of those in these communities as well. I hope we can rally one-another to turn into Secret Santa’s for those around us that we notice whose bowls are not full this year and that we can turn and bless them. Even if it’s with a smile or a hug. Your friendships are a gift, and we feel the love!
The answer to the question posed in my Bible study was yes. I don’t think you need to be the recipient of gifts to be able to give them, but it definitely helps you to trust God in knowing that He can provide for you in new and mysterious ways, through the hands of many. We will be giving where we can, to continue this trend, and hopefully passing on some of the magic that has come our way this year. So Secret Santa, thank you for loving us, and for giving us the gift of love and community that keep on giving.
I’m Mandy Wichert, and this has been stuff I learned yesterday.
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