Thursday, October 23, 2008

Something to think about...

I heard a story on the radio the other day.

A guy mailed 500 Christmas cards to complete strangers.

They said: "Thinking of You this Holiday Season - Love, The Smiths"

He received Christmas cards back from 70% of those complete strangers.

The guy on the radio said it was because you reap what you sow. In other words, send out a little kindness, receive a little kindness.

That may be. Or...

Maybe the card receivers didn't want to look like jerks. Maybe they thought the cards came from a long lost classmate they had forgotten about. Maybe when they sent the Christmas card back they were really looking out for their own self-image. Maybe it had nothing to do with kindness.

Is that cynical of me?

Would you have sent a Christmas card back?

6 comments:

Rebekah said...

Okay, I completely agree that it has nothing to do with kindness or warm mushy stuff! I'm sorry...maybe it's just the synic in me but people aren't really touched by a random stranger "thinking" about them. I also think there is something odd about wanting 100s of cards from total strangers as well.

I would not have replied to them because I don't know who they are. I would have asked Matt about them and then we would have probably just always wondered who the "smiths" were.

funny.

Renata said...

I think I would have probably thought it was from someone I've known in my life. But since I'm really disorganised with chrissy cards (I'll try to be better this year - LOL- I say that every year & it's still christmas eve when they go out) so I probably wouldn't have mailed one back!

Jami said...

I wouldn't have mailed one back either.

Interesting though.

Taylor said...

No, I don't think it is cynical...I think that is just human nature....pride is the root of most sin right? Sad. I'm tracking with you on this. And no, I wouldn't have sent one back, or actually, (it depends on my mood some days) I might send one back, saying I don't know who you are but, have a merry christmas anyway!

Anonymous said...

I was touched deeply by the thought of someone caring enough to send cards to complete strangers. Think of it...caring that much for strangers!

Jim Diamond

Ryan and Becky Weiss said...

I wouldn't send them a card back. And I probably would google their name to see if I could possibly figue out who they were wondering where we had met them!