It is more blessed to give than to receive.
To me, this is never more evident than in mine and mom’s September Box exchange. Once a year we exchange things we have been collecting or creating. Months or weeks or days of thinking about each other while readying our gift box. And then exchanging it in September, a precious time. We just recently exchanged our boxes for our 8th year tradition.
It was just weeks before our exchange. I saw a jar of “positive quotes” I saw at a craft fair. The idea turned and weaved and circled and eventually evolved into me typing up a booklet of selected Promises from God. One from each book in the bible.
Like most handmade gifts, it was a gift to me to create, BUT this one carried an extra blessing to me. I spent hours in God’s word. Reading the many blessing in each book and choosing just the one I wanted to use. God has given us so many wonderful promises! Even in obscure books like Zechariah “Return to me and I will return to you” says the Lord Almighty. 1:3 and Nahum, The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him… 1:7 and even our favorites, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. There are over 5,000 promises in the Bible!
What a heart of gratitude I received while typing these scriptures. An incredible reminder of all He has promised us.
I know it will likewise bless mom as she reads it.
I typed (poorly sometimes on my old non-electric typewriter) them on old journal paper and bound them using a picture in this guide.
Other notables found in my mom’s box….
I found this sweet book, on instagram and immediately ordered in on amazon. I want to make everything in the book!! But I chose to start with a patchwork journal cover. Using scraps of liberty fabrics, shared fabrics and vintage pieces and various thread colors (I received in last years box). Some of the fabrics I had purchased on our England trip. I thought of the fun memories of driving to Tewkesbury to visit Alice Caroline’s shop. I stitched fabrics from the red and white quilt mom made me and remembered our trip to Texas and how each night mom added another bow tie square. I included fabrics gifted from friends and fabrics from an old apron.
Slow stitching gives your hands things to do while your mind can get lost in all the good stuff.
So much trouble squeezing all these good things in a little lunch box.
Mom oohed and ahhed taking her time with each little item. What joy to witness.
And then it was mom’s turn to present her box for me. You might think it was my turn but the turn is truly the giver!
Mom makes the best bows! A beautiful hand painted and then handwritten card graced the inside of my tin. Mom is queen of note writing.
All my little gifts were wrapped in wonderful liberty fabrics and scraps. Because “you make the sweetest things with all the little fabrics”. Little did she know.
Deddy contributed too… This amazing little tin with such history.
These were little Christmas tins given to the British Soldiers by Princess Mary (age 17) in 1914 filled with tobacco, confectionary, spices, a pencil, a Christmas card and a picture of Princess Mary. The history which is really a worthwhile read can be found here. Deddy knew just how much I would treasure it.
Layered lastly was a coverlet and a pack of needles. Mom had stitched me a coverlet using old embroidered pieces. WOW!
Some of which my grandmother stitched.
Some of which I had been collecting for her to use in a quilt. Little did I know.
Mom’s plan is for us both to quilt on it passing it back and forth.
Slow stitching.
Another year of expressing love to one another using our love language.
Another year I get to Love the Giver.
Katey
