Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Attitude of Gratitude

The program year for 2009 is just about wrapped up at Adopt-a-Family. Our last job is to get the Thank You letters written by the recipients to their donors thanking them for their generosity. To the people who shop, wrap and tag the gifts for those they "adopt."

I'm the lucky one who opens the mail and gets to be the first to read the letters. We then forward them on to the actual donor. The letters, usually written by the parents, often include greeting cards, art work done by the kids, letters written by the kids and occasionally a little photograph of the children.

I try to set aside time to sit with the letters. I like to do it when I'm alone because I usually end up sniffing back tears and blowing my nose. Some of the letters are that touching. Here's a sampling of some of the letters from this year:

"The stockings were the best. It was so sweet and touching, it made me cry. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. Now we have something for every year to remember all of you by."

"I'm dearly grateful being the head of the household just barely making ends meet. My family were without the word "Merry." We are truly in a forever state of appreciation that you have marked our Christmas in a special way. As a Christian I quote the bible when it says that you shall reap what you sow. You have sowed in abundance so will you reap greater. God bless you and your family with health, peace and Joy. P.S. I know that my financial state next year will be greater. So I will sow to a less fortunate family."

"It brings tears to my eyes when I think of what a blessing you were to my family. You were amazingly generous to us. Thank you so very much!! Abigail loves her new brown furry boots. Caroline also loves her new fleece pajamas. The children all enjoyed the new sled. It goes farther than any sled they've had. Nathanial was thrilled with his transformer. He said he just 'knew' Santa would bring him one because he asked him for one. Such childlike faith!"

"The gifts were a blessing. Their eyes lit up with every gift they unwrapped."

"Thank you for the generous amount of food groceries. Thank you!! I was speechless when I saw it. I can't say or express my gratitude for the diapers as well. You took the little info of the boys and acknowledged their likes. They were surprised to see the characters they like."

"God bless your home! Thank you very much for making our Christmas happen. We love every one of the gifts we got and we are sending you a lot hugs from the bottom of our heart."

"Thank you so much. I couldn't believe all the gifts! Thank you so much for the coats & boots. They are very much needed. You are wonderful to help people you don't even know. I don't know what I would have done this year for Christmas."

"There was no favorite gift. They were all great. Just the fact that you took the time out of your day and the money out of your pocket means more to us than what was received."

"I hope you had a great Christmas and I hope that God blesses you everyday. Without people like you in this world I don't know what I would do."

"I am so thankful that you were so generous to my children this Christmas. It was difficult just recently getting laid off and not knowing what they would have. My wish for you is that someone could do such a nice thing for you as you did for us in a time of need."

"My wish for you is that you never know hardship and that you and your family are happy and safe always!"

I have to say that sentiments like these make all the hard work very worthwhile.

4 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Those are beautiful. How wonderful to help those who are in need and really appreciate what they received.

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Those are such wonderful comments!

Unknown said...

What beautiful letters. Your work is really needed,and so appreciated.

Pam said...

You're not the only one who tears up when reading those letters. It's nice to know that the donations were appreciated.

 

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