Saturday, January 31, 2015

Gifts and giving back

My daughter is attending a retreat, focused on Yoga and Meditation this weekend.  And because her Yoga teacher uses our oils in her classes, Jennifer was asked to do a talk about Aromatherapy.  Now, Jennifer has been peripherally involved with Nature's Gift since it started.  The first time I ever flew out of state to talk to people about the oils I love, when it was just me and no other staffers, she poured and labeled wee bottles for me to take and share. She was a part of it from the very beginning, but not, usually, an active participant. She is, I think, proud of what we do.  It's her definition of what we do, written in a college essay, that has always defined us. "Every day, all over the world, she sends out boxes full of joy and healing."   This is how my daughter sees Nature's Gift

Anyway.  we spent a lot of time backing and forthing about what oils to diffuse during different parts of the weekend, and what oils to talk about when she gives the presentation.  She will be focussing how the botanicals that are the source of our oils have been part of so many spiritual paths for millenium.  She'll start with some of the aromatics from the Bible, and branch out to other traditions.

We decided to gift all the women at the retreat with a small gift...  2 ml bottles of Solace anointing oil and Magdalene's Anoint... because they fit with the weekend.

The problem was that my staff was totally overwhelmed in January, between some huge wholesale orders and our 20 on the 20th sale. NO ONE had time to prepare those wee gifts.  So last weekend I spent several hours all by myself, down in production, pouring and labeling the gifts to be sent to Jennifer on Monday.

I sent Jen the picture below in the middle of the preparations... with the note "not a straight label in the batch"  


Some of you know that I couldn't put a label on straight even back in the day. Now, well, I've developed this tremor..and I don't pour and label any more. 

I wrote the following to Jennifer's teacher when she thanked me for the gift I was sending..

I need to thank you and Jennifer... I talked to her earlier...you two gave me a REAL gift...

See, I don't get to work with the oils any more...  I have this tremor and some other age related problems and... I don't spend much time with the oils. I get to do all the computer stuff, and answer questions and do the importing and the researching and the studying and... the stuff that needs doing, and needs knowledge.

but I don't work directly with the oils any more, not on a daily basis.  I decide yes and no on samples that come in, I do the sourcing and I work with Jim on tweaking blends when we need to remake a product, and the raw ingredients are different... but not daily. I don't blend...and I don't package what we are sending out the door.

And because my staff was totally overloaded this week, the very nice young man who runs Production for us just didn't have time to get to the 'gift sets"...  and I told him I would..

I spent some hours at the shop earlier this evening.. pouring 28 wee bottles of Solace Anoint... and praying for the women who would receive them...that their griefs would be eased...  and then sealing and labeling (crookedly!) the bottles, and packaging them.  And then pouring 28 wee bottles of Magdalene...and praying for forgiveness, and self forgiveness, and for the gift of being ABLE to forgive, for the women who would be receiving them.  (Because the Magdalene blend is about forgiveness, on all levels.)

and I realized what a gift it was to be able to do exactly what I was doing..and how I had missed letting the oils, and the INTENTIONs of the oils be part of my daily life any more.

And so I sent Jen a picture of the wee bottles, without a straight label in the lot...and asked her to call me if she was free... and thanked her for the gift of working with my oils tonight."

And when I talked to my daughter that night, I cried, with gratitude, for having this missing part of my life restored to me.  

There is a followup to this story...   We shipped the package by Priority Mail, insured to Jennifer at her office on Monday.  And it fell into a postal black hole.  Monday night it scanned out of Madison, but never scanned in to Nashville, or any place beyond. It was scheduled for delivery on Wednesday, and, of course, was still in that black hole. By noon Wednesday, Jennifer and I were both convinced it just wasn't going to happen.  So, on Wednesday, I placed an online order for the oils that Jennifer was going to be talking about during her presentation, and the oils that they had planned to diffuse during the whole weekend, and FedExed it over night to her office in Virginia. (isn't it FedEx when it absolutely HAS to be there tomorrow?)  Of course, after we sent the FedEx order out on Wednesday, Wednesday night the USPS package showed up in Northern Virginia.   You can predict the rest.



 And... the Creator had things well in hand.  Because the list that I packed the USPS box from contained all the gifts, and scent strips, and the oils to be diffused. But I had negleced the oils that she was going to TALK about.  No Frankincense, no Myrrh, no Spikenard, no Sandalwood. The second box was necessary.    

At any rate, I just wanted to share a gift that enriched my life.  And, as I type and edit this blog post, my daughter is talking about how the oils we make available can enrich people's spiritual paths.  

What a gift, to do what we do!

13 comments:

Cindy Jones said...

Beautiful Marge. It's hard when we can't do the things we love. Glad this worked out for you.

aluna.us said...

Beautiful post, Marge. I too am unable to put a lable on straight, never could! I've always blamed it on my name.....Aileen

Unknown said...

What an awesome story! I know that you love working with your oils as much as I love working with mine. Maybe you can set aside some time each day just to be with your babies to enjoy them. Don't forget they can help you to heal also. We forget that because we are always busy helping other people. Hugs and much love to you. Rhavda

bpatter said...

Wonderful story and precious YOU.

Diane Kinsella said...

As one of the attendees at the retreat this weekend, I want to thank you for the blessings you've bestowed. Jennifer rocked the presentation! It was a privilege to hear her tell the story (minus the overnight headaches)...and now to read it here. You have every reason to be one "very proud Mama!" Thank you! I treasure my samples all the more for the "crooked labels," though your eye must be much more critical than mine. Blessings to you, Diane Kinsella

Marge said...

Thank you, Diane! She said it went well..but it's always great to hear from folks who were there. Jennifer just continues to amaze me. I'm going to make sure she sees your comment. Now I just want to know that she is home safe...LONG drive in bad weather!

Diane Kinsella said...

Marge, I'm praying for her safe travels home...as I'm sure others are as well!

mike siegel said...

Marge, what a beautiful, wonderful experience. I remember "in the.day" when you started and boy you sure have come.a.long way.. I am proud to be in your circle of friends and you in mine. May the Creator keep you safe and healing others as.yourself.

Marge said...

Thanks, Mike... "what a long strange trip its been"...and you've been around for a lot of it. "It's not humanly possible to get from where I was to where I am now"..yeah... you've heard me share that.

Anita said...

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Sometimes other things take over our lives and returning to work with the oils is always a very grounding and humbling experience.

Erika May said...

What a beautiful post! I just recently found your company via facebook and I am so in love. I look forward to purchasing more oils from you as my budget allows and I'm telling anyone interested in EO's about your superb products. Also looking forward to more of your writing. Thank you!

Marge said...

Why bless your dear heart, Ericka, thank you. And Anita, yes.

Unknown said...

I love this! Beautiful story! I just discovered your site and it is now my new favorite!! I was looking at the Magdalene oil earlier and told my husband that I felt like I needed to order it. It just seemed to jump out at me. After reading this, I feel its confirmation! Thanks again!