Yesterday we talked about having a spirit of giving as a way to make the world a better place to live in. As I sat down tonight, I opened Facebook to see if there were any comments on the morning post and the first thing I saw was a video from a page I recently started following. Cake Love is my new and unlikely guilty pleasure. Scott narrates his the videos that show him decorating cakes. His voice is at once soothing and comforting. He tells little stories as he decorates and watching him artfully draw in multicolored buttercream is so relaxing. It has become a sort of meditation in the evenings, usually before I write.
The video I am sharing with you today is a two layer cake based on Nightmare Before Christmas which is timely just before Halloween. Usually Scott’s videos have great music playing in the background and he posts the name and the artist so you can look it up later if you like it. I always appreciate that. So, I’m watching the progress and seeing this cake take shape when Scott starts to tell the story. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I thought it was so beautiful and something I plan to do in the future. Let’s just say, it’s all about paying it forward…doing something kind and generous for someone who will never meet you, never know you, but will always remember you.
It reminds me of the first Christmas after Mr. Virgo died. Christmas was a HUGE holiday for him. He listened intently for months, gathering any little clue of something I might like. Then he planned and schemed and there were always thoughtful surprises under the tree. When that first Christmas without him came, my heart was so broken. I needed to do something healing, something generous, something kind for someone else. I went into the Walmart near Daughter #1’s house and withdrew a couple hundred dollars out of the ATM. Then, I went to the card aisle and bought a nice Christmas card. I wrote Mr. Virgo’s story on the inside, wished the recipient a very Merry Christmas and went to find just the right person.
I wandered to the toy aisle and found a young couple carefully going over their list, picking things up, sadly putting them back down, then heading for the bargain bin at the back of the store. I walked by her and dropped the envelope and acted surprised. I bent down to pick it up and handed it to her.
“Here, I think this is yours.”
She took the envelope with a confused expression and said, “For me?”
“Yes. Have a Blessed Christmas!” I gave her a quick hug, spun on my heel, and marched out of the store without looking back. When I got to the truck, I was literally shaking. I felt like I’d had a hundred cups of coffee, the adrenalin was coursing through my veins. It felt like such a high to just GIVE. I can’t remember if I cried, but I don’t feel like I did. I just remember it being the BEST gift I could have ever received.
Scott’s story made me feel this way. The story is four minutes into the video. I hope you enjoy it. You can find the video HERE.
❤️
“By everything I did, I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord Jesus said, “More blessings come from giving than from receiving.””
Acts 20:35 CEV