Jar of Goodness

Last December* a friend challenged me to keep a Mason Jar of Goodness. I found that idea intrigued.  A jar … of goodness?

What is a Jar of Goodness?

A jar of goodness starts out on January 1 as an empty mason jar–nothing fancy or distracting. As the year’s seasons pass, whenever something “good” happens, a note gets added to the jar. The goal is to make notes of pleasant experiences, no matter how small. Then on New Year’s Eve, the jar’s opened and a year’s worth of goodness pours out,  reminders of wonderful memories.

I was told to keep the jar in a visible place so I could see the stack of papers grow. And if for some reason the stack didn’t grow, seeing  the jar would spur me on to do something good, write it down and put the note in the jar.

What a fun idea!

I mean, what could goo wrong? And if the project fizzled, it cost me nothing.

I mean, what could goo wrong? And if the project fizzled, it cost me nothing.

Week after week I looked for goodness and blessings to write about. I didn’t want an empty jar at the end of the year.

Projects were completed around the house. Lew went on a 1,700+ mile bike ride across the country. I went to writers conference that changed my life.

Over the  months, every time I have walked by and looked at the jar, my heart smiled. The stack of papers were growing. I couldn’t remember exactly what I wrote on them, but it was obvious my year was filled with great experiences.

Here … and there

Here and there notes accumulated. I knew–even without specifically remembering them–there were long forgotten little kisses of goodness waiting for me to find New Year’s Eve.

Finally …

Finally, New Year’s Eve arrived. Lew and I sat with a charcuterie board of cheese and goodies and began to review the previous year. And part of that review involved opening the Jar of Goodness. What a treat it was to come upon reminders of the sweet year. Yes, there were notes about big things: Lew’s ride, my conference, and completed projects around the house. But the sweetest memories were the little ones. Acts of kindness. Surprise dinners with friends. Even a note on a great haircut.

We laughed as we took turns reading the notes. It was truly a celebration for the year to end the holiday season.

But the sweetest memories were the little ones. Acts of kindness. Surprise dinners with friends. Even a note on a great haircut. Share on X

 

I can’t wait until Lew and I celebrate New Year’s Eve this year and open the Mason Jar of Goodness. It’s aways great to remember the small–or large–blessings that God wrapped us in during the previous year.  Reminders of good happenings are too few. We all need to try to remember them.

 

 

*first posted this challenge December 12, 2013