In the true spirit of Christmas this morning i received a beautiful generous gift from a stranger.
I had brought a gorgeous (and well under priced) cardigan from her on Trade me,to keep MissK Warm next winter- For a whole $4.
When i opened the parcel today it also included a Pumpkin Patch velvet blazer that the sellers daughter had worn once the previous years Christmas day.
It was BEAUTIFUL,in immaculate condition and something that i would not usually buy for MissK as it was (obviously) an expensive item that would not keep the rain off but ,man did it look gorgeous.
The seller had put a Christmas card inside the parcel wishing Christmas love from her family to mine and also a note explaining about the extra jacket and that she hoped my daughter would get some special use out of this jacket that she loved so much that it was kept for 'best',and her daughter had infact only worn it on one occasion.

Little did the seller know when she did this amazingly wonderful thing,that i have a black velvet blazer -which is also wonderful and beautiful (and was given to me by one of my ex-bosses,as it was not something that i would splurge on for myself). MissK coverts my blazer,she strokes it and gently rubs her cheeks on it. "its SO soft Mummy" she whispers every time i wear it,so you can just imagine the look on her face when i showed her what she had been sent.

As human beings we are capable of so much.Of changing the lives of those around us in ways that we may never fully understand ourselves.
The lady who sent us MissK's new blazer never knew that i have been fighting cancer or that we are a struggling single income family or that MissK would have loved a velvet blazer of her own but it was a luxury that i couldnt afford her right now.
Its likely that she will never know that she put a smile on my face that has lasted all day, That she made me feel so happy and blessed that i was extra patient with MissK when she was tired and cranky this morning or that i spent a large part of the afternoon thinking of ways that i could do something for someone else to share this feeling with them and to brighten their day also.

Its so easy to become wrapped up in what immediately around us and its worryingly easy to fall into the trap of not doing things for people we dont know because we wont be there to reap the benefits.
Its a skill which i plan an practising with MissK as soon and as often as possible to teach her the true gift of giving,which i have been touched with this feastive season.

A small,generous gesture from a stranger that has brightened my life -hopefully some point in the near future,and many times in the future after that i can brighten the life of someone that i have yet to know.