Last spring I visited a friend in Florida who had just lost her husband. We were grilling outside her home one evening when friends of hers (a husband and wife) from church stopped by. My friend invited them in and while visiting I remarked to the woman how lovely her necklace was and how I admired the uniqueness of it. She thanked me and took it off to show me how differently it was made.
The couple went outside for a moment with my friend who was checking on dinner, and when they all came back in she walked up to me and said, “Here, I want you to have my necklace. I protested and said no. She said that she knew how much I liked it, and she wanted me to have it!
Honestly, I felt terrible about this, and I told my friend after they left how I would give it back to her the next day when we would see them at my friend’s church. I felt even worse when my friend told me that her husband had given her the necklace.
The next morning I saw the woman at church and told her strongly that I could not take this gift that obviously meant a lot to her. Please, I said, I want to give it back to you. I know that your husband gave it to you.
With that, the husband came over to where we were standing and said that his wife had asked him when they were outside the night before if she could give me the necklace, and he said of course.
This woman proceeded to tell me that she had learned long ago that what made her the happiest was bringing joy to others, and that has always been her goal in life. She would not take no for an answer – I was to have the necklace!
I look at the necklace now and am still amazed at the love and generosity that this woman, whom I had never met before that evening at my friend’s home, showed to me, a stranger. Giving away what is precious to bring others joy — that’s a Godwink, don’t you think?
