My Charity Failure

Over one year ago, I read a novel titled "The Christmas Jars" by Jason Wright. This novel created the urge in me to give my own Christmas Jar. I saved my change for the last year, and added dollars as well. By the end, the total was somewhere around $170. I didn't count all of the change because well I didn't feel like it. I then asked my friend if she would mind if I anonymously gave it to her brother who was having a hard time. I had thought of giving it to him since about June, and asked my friend in November.

I had planned out the delivery for weeks. I put the jar in a box that was decorated for Christmas, tied closed, and had his name on it. I put it in a box because I thought if it was in a bag, the bottom would rip, and dump the coins on his front porch. I also put his name on it so everyone in the home would know it was for him. I enclosed the book with a written letter in the front cover, but no identification of the giver anywhere. I dropped off the box to his front porch while everyone in the house hold was at a wedding. I figured I would know quickly what happened through my friend. We waited to hear something, and waited, and waited... On Christmas itself, she snooped through the house looking for signs of the box, a jar, the book, anything, and...nothing.

It has been about 3 weeks since the delivery, and my friend called me today to let me know that her mother called her, and let her know that my friend's other brother (not the recipient) found over $10 by his house in coins when he went for a walk. He had seen 2 other people pass this same spot and not see the coins. My friend's sister found over $3 of change in a similar location. This means many things. First, obviously the box was stolen from their front porch. I truly hope the person that stole the box benefits from it. Secondly, I think it is a very ironic situation that 2 other people in the SAME household found large amounts of change while walking by their home. I think it is also especially ironic that the intended recipient did not receive anything.

This makes me wonder what I am supposed to learn from this situation. Maybe it is because I did it for somewhat selfish reasons giving it to someone I know so that I would be able to hear how it helped their life that the box was stolen. Maybe that person needed such a gift even more than the intended recipient. Maybe I am supposed to realize that no matter how much I control a situation and plan for it, it really is out of my control, and in God's hands. Maybe I am supposed to do a Christmas Jar in a more anonymous manner, but I really wanted to help the intended recipient. Maybe I am not supposed to tell anyone about my acts of charity (which makes this blog pointless), and donate in such a way that no one knows. Maybe I was meant to deliver the jar in person to the recipient so that he knew someone cared.

I have already started collecting for this years' Christmas jar. I can only wonder what kind of mystery will occur with this jar.