A Young Man's Gift

a month of giving

I gave a young man a deal yesterday. I make jewelry and sell at holiday special events. A kid, probably 16 years old, came up to my table and looked over the jewelry. He picked up one particular piece and turned it over carefully in his hands. He caught my eye and said, "My Mom would really like wearing this."

(Now let me stop the story right here and let you know that I am the mother of a 28-year-old son. So I have a soft spot in my heart for young men and their mothers.)

He asked how much the necklace cost and with my reply, he carefully put the necklace down, sighed and said how much he would like to give it to her but he couldn't afford it.

(Let me stop the story again. This kid was not scamming me. He was genuinely wanting to give the necklace to his mom for Christmas and I could tell he did not have the kind of money I was asking.)

He walked away but wandered back with his dad. I was so taken by this young man's genuine desire to please his mom that I struck a deal. I asked him to make me an offer that he thought was fair based on what he could afford. He couldn't believe his ears. He looked at the necklace, then at his dad, then at me. His dad said, "go ahead, son." So the kid in a very quiet voice made me an offer. And I leaned across the table and said, "it's a deal because I have a son, too, and I know your mom is going to love your gift."

The young man beamed and after our transaction, he reached out to shake my hand and thanked me for my generosity, and said how happy and surprised his mom would be. His dad thanked me for my kindness. And I just said, "you have a very lucky mom."

As they walked away, vendors at the tables next to me said I practically made them cry.

Isn't it ironic? Here I was just trying to help out a young man get a nice gift for his mother and I got gifted in return.