I’m rummaging through the box thinking, what is this? Then I found a note from my friend Susan and her husband who had visited me the week before. It turns out, they were so excited to hear about my organization, Point Hope, and a particular event we host to spoil teenage foster girls during the holidays, they sent a box of goodies to donate to our event.

The “Teenista” (combining Teen and Fashionista) is a full day event just before Christmas where we invite local foster girls to come and get pampered for a day. The girls can opt to get their hair, makeup and nails done. They get to pick out new clothes and jewelry and makeup and then we take professional photos of them for a keepsake. It’s such a fun event and so rewarding to see the girls’ faces light up as the day goes on.

My friend Susan and her husband really blessed us with this great big box of jewelry for the girls. It’s not that a watch or necklace is going to change a teenager’s life, but hopefully knowing they’re thought of and loved and events were planned in their honor -- could be life changing.

When you give a gift, it’s not really the gift that has value. It’s the thought that goes into it. It’s the love that goes into it. It’s the desire to make someone’s day a little brighter. It doesn’t have to be a wrapped gift, either. You can give groceries to someone in a brown bag and help stock their cupboard. You can read to someone or volunteer to babysit for a single mom. When you give your time to someone, you’re giving your heart. Just a thought.