the unused joy jar

 

On a shelf, ignored since December of 2021. A plain jar that holds cards that capture in writing some moments of joy. 

02-14-20 John went back to the store and bought a heart with opals that I had admired.

03-09-20. Phone call with my niece thanking me for being many things to her. 

04-21-20 Finally went to our favorite bookstore. The owner passed them out the back door. Covid.

And so on. 

All the forgotten joys in a glass jar. 

On Twitter last night I was remined of one. A Twitter Army friend had sent a 100 dollar credit on Amazon to me, a person he never met. I was telling another twitter friend who knew him too what a big heart he had. We both miss his posts as he passed a year after that. I then told her how he had made it to my Joy jar that day. April 21st 2020.The jar that has sat there waiting for my unravelling to subside. 

Two cards now, new ones.

 6-28-23 Sean my youngest son sent pictures from his trip to Mongolia. I was invited but thought he would much more enjoy the trip to the wilds without a whining Momma. He still takes me along and I feel joy.

06-29-23 The doorbell rings and the smiling face of my nurse friend who, hearing I have sun poisoning from a lake trip, thrusts a big bottle of Aloe Vera in my hand and says, "God wouldn't leave me alone until you got this."

If we look for it, we find it even when we thought it impossible.