The Tale of Two Bracelets

A peak into our innate humanity

My cute little nieces are very creative. Most occasions, I can expect to get a beautiful homemade card and hand-crafted gift. It lights my heart and lifts my soul. Their love is pure. This birthday, I received a card from each of them and a box with one bracelet.

Melissa explained that they both made me a bracelet, but Avery loved hers so much, she decided to keep it. Brooklyn’s was wrapped up in a box with a pretty bow ready for my wrist.

I thanked and hugged Brooklyn as I put my new pieces of jewelry on. A few minutes later, Avery came blasting into the room and saw I was opening presents. She came over to look around and saw all the gifts before me. She then looked at my wrist and saw the bracelet that Brooklyn had made. She eagerly took the bracelet off of her little arm and handed it to me. “Here,” she said, “this is for you.”

I was shocked and moved. How sweet a change of heart. When faced with her own ego, her own humanity, she was able to shift to give up her bracelet.

I shared this with Jeremy thinking it would move him similarly. He instantly said, “Well that’s nice, but what about Brooklyn who gave her bracelet to you selflessly in the first place? Shouldn’t that be the acknowledgment?” (*paraphrasing) I was stopped. I thought about this all afternoon and have many times since. I had been so moved by Avery’s action that I didn’t acknowledge Brooklyn's innate ability to gives to others.

I still think about the tale of two bracelets to this day and it reminds me to consider that some people are dealing with their humanity while also acknowledging those that selflessly give inherently. Neither are right or wrong, they just are. Sometimes it is easier to see those the more dramatic in life, (like my Avery story) but it can be those moments that highlight the subtle generosity that is often overlooked.

Much love.