Shutter Sisters

love and giving

By

Several christmases ago, my daughter learned to give. I caught her one day, wrapping tiny found objects to give to all her school friends. Any little thing that caught her eye was snatched up and lovingly wrapped with scraps of tissue paper and dirty bits of scotch tape. This included the cracked half of a pink plastic bead she found on the floor at the thrift store, the arm of a barbie, half of a pencil eraser. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her classmates might not see the beauty in these things. And while I was thrilled to see her focus on giving, I was crazy nervous about the kind of reactions her school friends might have. What if they laughed? What if they totally rejected her gifts? I could not stand the thought.

I remember the morning she took them to school. How she stood in the doorway, little red packages cupped in her hands. She held them as if they were jewels, her eyes shone with pride. She couldn’t wait to get to school and give them out. I looked at the mess of packages just then, each one clumsily taped together and my heart broke a little. I prayed that her friends would somehow see the love behind each gift. I prayed really really hard.

On the way home from school that day, she told me she had given out all her presents. Then she looked out the window and said nothing else. Of course, this worried me but I did not pry. A few days later, we had lunch with her at school to celebrate the grand opening of the new cafeteria. As we sat eating macaroni and cheese and fruit cocktail, a little boy eyed me from across the table. He was working up the courage to say something, I could feel it. And then finally: “Ava gave ME a present.” The happy came pouring out of him then and he smiled. Ava smiled too– a smile as wide and as open as the whole of the sun.

Image and words by Andrea Jenkins or as she’s lovingly known in many circles, Hula.

We are thrilled that she is helping celebrate Giveaway May by giving one lucky reader a copy of her poloroid print Love Always Wins. Swoon. Just leave a comment here between now and Monday at midnight.

Congrats to Jen at Cabin Fever for winning the print. YAY!

Comments

  4. What could be a more important lesson to learn, and to teach, but to give. I love how your image and your story embrace and merge the ordinary and the extraordinary.

  5. perfect example of trusting in the simplicity and earnestness (is that a word? :)) in a situation. my mom always reminds me that if i do things with a good and open heart, it will work out in the end!

  7. What a lovely, encouraging story. Simple gifts from the heart are the best. The photo was the perfect complement. Lovely!

  8. One of the sweetest stories I’ve ever heard…..and with a very happy ending. Thanks for sharing this

  10. Great story. And it really is true that love always wins. Thanks for sharing.

  17. my son starting doing this year…he would go around the house, finding toys and wrapping them in bubble wrap to give to his buddies on the bus. expecting nothing in return. it was just the best to hear from the moms of the boys how excited they were to receive the gifts. this started a little gift-giving chain amongst them all. I love this series of polaroids…truly awesome.

  19. Oh my goodness…this brings tears to my eyes! I bet a part of us would all feel the same as the little boy, if we would let ourselves…there is nothing better to receive a gift from the heart. My son (a kindergartener) has done the same thing…wrapping his little cars in paper to gift. He receives erasers, bracelets (from the adoring girls in his class) and various other trinkets in return. It makes me feel so amazing.

  21. My daughter is the say. I always feel so conflicted about her "treasures", but she’s fortunate to have very loving, understanding friends. And, I love the photo!

  22. I love the contrast between the message and the setting; I love the boldness of the statement; I love the "everydayness" of the message in its relationship to laundry on the line. This is a wonderful photograph that really resonates for me.

  23. The simplicity of giving of oneself in the most ordinary of ways is surprisingly beautiful. I love how children do that so naturally. Thank you for the sweet story reminding us how to give…

  24. This story just made my heart swell. I love Andrea’s work & writing. What a fantastic post!

    I think this photo is a gentle reminder of all the good in the world…and which one of us couldn’t stand to be reminded of the power found in love each an every day? Thanks for this; it’s awe-inspiring.

  30. My stomach churned as I read the story. The faith of children gets lost in the adultness of living a grown-up life. What a gentle reminder to believe that you can make a difference, even if with a small trinket of kindness. What a treasure you have in your child…..to give of herself so unselfishly. I’m glad it ended on a lilting note. Thanks for sharing her story.

  32. I love that story! My little guy does the same thing, and I have to admit I’m probably the worst receiver of them. I should be more gracious. Thanks for the sweet reminder.

  34. I love giving! Great picture Hula (another great picture!)… I like the way you waited to see what would happen before asking her about how it went.

  35. What an emotional story, and the perfect image to accompany it. Well done!

    Your site is a constant source of inspiration for budding photographers. Thank you.

    -K

  38. This is a lovely post – children can really break your heart with love! Their innocence and lack of self awareness is wonderful to see, and can easily bring a lump to the throat.

    I can remember my son bringing a torn picture home from school when he was about six. The little girl who had drawn it was very upset because someone had ripped it – my son brought it home to repair it for her and took it to school the next day, stuck together. They’re both seventeen now and I suspect that she still remembers that.

  40. Aren’t children wondrous? So often they are the ones teaching us… Phenomenal photo – I’d love to hang it in my classroom.

  49. What a sweet beautiful story. My daughter does this with her drawings. And I sometimes wonder what her friends think when she gives them.

  52. What a perfect story about giving. I wish I had learned as a little girl to be as generous as Ava! Without fear of rejection.

  53. so sweet….so tender. i was holding my breath for her…..so glad for those smiles at the end.
    oh, and your polaroids are magic!!!

  56. I can see my girl heading in that direction… so hard to watch them open up in that way! But what a beautiful chance to learn and grow and give. Just lovely.

  63. I love this story. I was that kid in school, and my younger sister is now. And I’m so in love with this print that if I don’t win, I might just go and buy one anyway.

    Thank you for sharing this tiny bit of magic.

  66. I was holding my breath, reading the story. So sweet and so glad it turned out the way it did.

  68. oooh i loved this shot the first time i saw it, and girlhula was one of my first blog crushes.
    what a beautiful story.
    x.

  71. i LOVE this photo…. almost as much as i LOVE love. so much so that i have the word tattooed on my right side/hip in lovely delicate cursive. i believe in love real true honest to goodness gut wrenching can’t breathe or move deep as the ocean LOVE.

    and i was lucky enough to find him my first year at college. i w son my way to a rugby rookie night party with a guy rookie and a guy vet player and my manfriend pulled up and drove us there and i remember climbing into his truck for the first time thinking "oh my heck! he is so cute." he remembers thinking "she’s going to be trouble."…. so far (six years later) so good.

  73. It’s a beautiful thing to see a child learn how to give, especially on their own. This story made me smile and warmed my heart, thank you. And Hula, your polaroids are just marvelous.

  74. What a beautiful story! My son learned likes to collect rocks, where ever we go, and always brings home the most special for his dad. It has grown into quite the collection now. Despite them being "just plain old rocks" they are absolutely beautiful to us.

  75. Such a wonderful story! I love Andrea’s blog and especially her lovely Polaroid photos!

  77. aw that’s so lovely andrea! it’s so terrifying as an adult giving a present. we’ve all experienced the excitement and anticipation, the joy of a present loved by the recipient and the crush of a present not loved (or pretended to be loved). i wonder if ava even thought these things before she did her present giving – or if she was devoid of these fears and only filled with the excitement?

    loving your new polas in your shop – they’re just gorgeous and i may be compelled to buy more than one

    🙂

  80. You are such a sweet mom to let her give her presents as she intends — I know I would have a hard time not interfering and trying to gussy them up :]

  81. So innocent and heartfelt where Ava’a actions. A lesson for all on true giving with nothing expected in return. Thank you
    Andrea for sharing this.

  82. Thanks for sharing that story! I like knowing that I’m not the only one whose heart breaks a little with love for our children. Glad to find your blog as well – I live in Portland too!

  83. So beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes. It really is a good reminder that love recognises love and although it can be scary, if we give with an open heart we more often than not receive love in return.

  88. boy…as a mother i could feel your angst regarding the gifts! I was soooooo hoping it would turn out as it did! 😀