Do you own something that really is of no value, but is priceless to you?
By Nana530
@Nana530 (286)
United States
June 24, 2008 2:49pm CST
I have this little ceramic trinkte jar that is priceless to me, but wouldn't bring a quarter at a yard sale. What makes it priceless to me?
Well, it happened the summer after my husband died, a year after my granddaughter passed. I went to hear a speaker at the church where my sister attends. During the lunch break they had a drawing for a door pirze. I won and it was this beautiful little trinket box decorated with colorful ceramic flowers.
I took the little jar home and placed it on my corner what-not stand.
When my two granddaughters came over. the first thing they noticed was this little trinket jar. They asked if they could play with it and I told the of course, but just be careful because it was breakable.
I was sitting in my chair as they were playing. Apparently, I must have had a very sad look on my face as I often did in those days. For suddenly the girls came over and said "Nana, close your eyes, we have a surprise for you." I closed my eyes, and soon they said "Nana, open your eyes now and see your surprise"/
I opened my eyes, and they were holding the little jar in front of me with the lid off. They said, "Look Nana, Happy Hearts. Catch them Nana, catch them, they are floating all over the room. Catach them Nana, and they will make you happy. I started catching them and putting them to my chest, thinking this is what I was supposed to do. They said, Naaaa-naaaaa, you're not supposed to put them on the outside, you are supposed to swallow them so they can get inside you and make you happy. So I started grabbing them and putting them to my mouth and swallowing them.
"Did it make you HAPPY Nana" they asked me. I could see the excitment on their little faces as they waited for their Nana to be happy. So I gave them my biggest smile and said, "Yes, Yes, the happy hearts did make me happy.
So we danced and laughed and I watched my two little girls, so happy and excited that they had made their Nana happy again.
They said, "Nana, we knew it would make you happy, because this is a MAGIC JAR. It is filled with Millions and Trillions of happy hearts, so when you are sad and missing Granddaddy, just open up this magic jar and get you some HAPPY HEARTS and you will be happy again."
So yes, even though this little jar isn't worth much of anything to others. To me it is priceless. Of course a Magic Jar filled with Happy Hearts is priceless.
It still sits in it's place of honor, still there for any of us who are sad and may need a few happy hearts.
Do you have something like this that is priceless to you even though it may be worthless to others? If so, I would love to hear about it.
3 people like this
8 responses
@SandynPaul (171)
• United States
24 Jun 08
When I was younger... not sure how young exactly. I am 44 now and was probably in My 20's at the time. My Grandfather had purchased a boy pushing a girl under a tree swing for My Grandmother. When I first visited Him after this purchase He picked it up and showed it to Me and said... He bought it for Grandma because He loved Her so much. I never forgot the story or the "Person" "Who He was as He told Me this story" or the ceramic figurine. When He passed away, His widow's (His 5th wife) family was taking care of all the things since He had set Them up to handle all the issues concerning His possessions, and estate. So They then gave Me many things of His and offered many other things, but I did live 10 hours or so away and could only take so much with Me. They also said if there was something I wanted to say so. I then mentioned the figurine and His other Granddaughter from that side of the family produced it with tears. I almost really felt as though I couldn't take it. She cried I cried and I did end up bringing it home. The biggest problem I have with it over all is it's breakable and at the time I had owned and operated a in home daycare with up to 8 children. I was afraid it would be broken. I kept it tucked away for years but now it's on display and I still worry. I don't do daycare anymore. Even about 4 months ago one of My cats knocked stuff off the mantel including a 10x16 photo of My daughter but somehow that didn't crash also. I still need to replace the frame with My Daughters photo and put it back up. At least that can be replaced I think the photo didn't get scratched either. Thanks for sharing and God Blesses!
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
25 Jun 08
What a lovely story and what wonderful memories this figurine holds for you. I love reading stories like this. That's why I started this discussion. Love to read about positive, famly love. I'm so glad you got this and it will be something you will pass down to your children and your children's children. Thank you so much for commenting and sharing this lovely story. Hugs to you and your family.
2 people like this
@SandynPaul (171)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Thank You and I enjoyed the discussion totally. I really don't think I ever have much time... But I Am so glad to spend some on great conversation. Thanks for starting this one. Thanks for being a friend! God Blesses! P.S. Thanks for sharing that wonderful story. I know it will always touch My heart like the blurb I read in Readers Digest one time while waiting in a dr. office. About the one who put a dime in the horse machine at the grocery store for the child.
2 people like this
@startstop123 (435)
• India
25 Jun 08
Nothing in the world is priceless. we find may things in this world as priceless but they all may come use at sometime and someplace. Everything is the world is useful if we use it in the right way. Many waste materials which we think as a waste material and cannot be useful for further use but all these things can recyclable. These recyclable things can be used again and again as they are able to recycle again and again many times as possible.
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Yes, it is amazing how far we have come in learning to recycle most anything.
But I do think there are some things that are priceless to me, in that I would never sell or get rid of some items that hold such wonderful memories and family history.
Thanks so much for commenting.
@subha12 (18441)
• India
25 Jun 08
yes there are also something that are my treasure. it may be a little pencil box that i used in childhood. or some broken crayons laid inside it. all these are something that were once my friend, i have kept them with me as there are many memories associated with it.
@bansalsakshi (208)
• India
25 Jun 08
i have many things which are of no use but still are price less to me. i have saved an empty box of chocolates that was give to me by my brother on his wedding day although for others it is an empty box of chocolates but for me its priceless because it was that special box of chocolates i always wanted i.e swiss chocolate and he somehow managed to get them. second thing is all the letters that my best friend wrote to me when she was away i hold them very precious.another thing is my dairy where i write some of my feelings which i can't express to anyone.there are lot more things like that but these three are most special
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Isn't it something that an empty box of chocolates can be so precious. But this box holds some wonderful memories. I like that.
And the letters, that is something that in years to come will be so nice to go back and read them and remember what was going on in your life at that time. When I was a little girl I used to write back and forth to my cousin. I would give anything if I had saved her letters, and could now sit down and re-read them. I know you cherish these letters.
And of course diaries are always something that is priceless.
You have some really good treasures. Thanks so much for commenting and for sharing your priceless treasures.
@crazy_andy (258)
• China
26 Jun 08
That was really a warm memory. You are very lucky of having such two lovely granddaughters. I am really envious of you. I expect that I would have such beautiful experience when I were old.
1 person likes this
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Thank you so much for the sweet comment crazy-andy. Yes I am very lucky to have these two lovely granddaughters. And now I have two awesome grnadsons. :o)
And yes, I'm sure you will have many beautiful experiences to reflect on when you grow old.
Thank you so much for commenting.
@gagesmom314 (30)
• United States
24 Jun 08
What a beautiful memory! I do have something like that. Mine is an empty box of Kleenex. I tend to be a little emotional and my son learned at an early age that sometimes mom cries because she is happy. So as the years passed he would say many times "Mom's just crying because she is happy." Well when he turned 6 he decided that happy tears needed different Kleenex. So he took the Kleenex box and colored happy pictures all over it. It has a picture of our family, a tree, and a rainbow on it. He put them by the couch so that when I watch shows that make me cry happy tears I will have the happy tear Kleenex. That box is long out of tissues but the box still sits on that table.
It is amazing how open children's hearts are when they see others in need.
2 people like this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
25 Jun 08
What a wonderful story and memories. Aren't kids great? They do know how to cheer us up.
I'd say that trinket box is priceless. :-)
I have a few things that others would think are worthless that I treasure. One is a Steelers cap my dad used to wear when he watched Steeler games on TV. It has a bunch of trinkets on it, including one (of the two) ticket stubs he got from attending Super Bowl games.
1 person likes this
@cloudjames (8)
• Singapore
25 Jun 08
Good day nana.
Interesting magic jar you got there.
Well, I do not have something that is priceless to me but seems worthless to others, only my girlfriend has that, and its from me LOL. Its just a small ring that has gone out of shape and it cannot be wore on anymore. =( She placed it in this small little accessories box where she keep all her accessories. Sometimes, I always ask her, why keeping that ring in the box since its already useless, and she will always answer me, "I am keeping this forever because it means alot alot to me."
Me and my girlfriend, we have been together since 2005. I was still 16 then, as a student, working part time for my own pocket money. During valentine's day in 2006 I wanna give her something really special. But, LOL, i got no money on my own, and i had to work double hard for 2 months. I was working part-time in a fast food restarant and I asked my manager if i could increase my hours. For 2 months, being a student and working part time everyday is harsh. She knows I been working till late night and she kept questioning me why. (LOL, obviously i didnt tell her xD). I bought her a small little ring, and brought her to a fine-dining restaraunt to have a meal together. The small little ring is just a very simple ring (bad quality).
We enjoyed that day, taking photos, spending the time at the beach. She loved the ring. (To most of the adults, this may mean nothing much. But, we were oly 16 then and still in the middle of studying. LOL) When she got home, she placed the ring on her desk. As always, her elder sister always take things from her without permission. =.= She took the ring and kinda like, bent the ring, because she wanna try it out and it doesn't fit her! My girlfriend saw, then call me and started crying... I am like "what the..." -.-
Yea, she cried and all. Told her whats done is done. (I don't know what happened after she hung up the phone that day. O.O). Now, to her, that ring is still as memorable to her, because it meant something from my heart and reminds us of our very first valentine's day together.
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Awww that is just so sweet. Gosh, to think that you worked two jobs as well as attended school to buy your girl this little ring. Now that is really romantic and I can certainly see why this ring is so important.
I love this story. And yeah, I think she is lucky to have you too. :O)
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story and tell your girl that Nana said Hi.
