What Was Taken. What Was Given.

Yesterday, something was taken from us.

Yes, merchandise. But for a few hours, it felt like something else had been taken, too.

We had spent the morning at a beautiful event benefiting the Norfolk SPCA — a room filled with people who had purchased tickets to be there, volunteers who had given countless hours of their time, merchants who had shown up to support the cause, and guests who came ready to enjoy a lovely Sunday morning while doing some good along the way.

And somewhere in the middle of all that goodness, someone decided to steal from our shop.

It was disappointing. It was unsettling. And, given the setting and the purpose of the morning, it was particularly difficult to understand.

We said so.

There is a misconception that grace requires us to quietly overlook bad behavior. It does not.

Grace can have boundaries.

Grace can call something wrong.

Grace can expect better from people.

And grace certainly does not require pretending something ugly was beautiful.

But perhaps grace does ask us not to let the ugly become the only thing we remember.

Because when we thought about yesterday again this morning, we realized just how much more had been given than taken.

Volunteers gave their time.

Businesses gave generously.

Guests opened their wallets for a worthy cause.

People stopped by our shop to visit, laugh, tell stories, compliment our work, and support a small business.

And best of all, we learned that several animals had found homes.

Think about that.

While we were understandably frustrated over something being carried away from our table without being paid for, somewhere else in that same room, people were helping make it possible for animals to be carried home.

That deserves to be the story we remember.

Yesterday also brought an extraordinary outpouring of kindness after we shared what happened. Messages. Comments. Fellow small-business owners who understood immediately. Customers who were indignant on our behalf. Friends who reminded us that the behavior of a few should never be allowed to speak for the character of the many.

They were right.

We can acknowledge what was taken without allowing it to take anything else from us.

Not our enthusiasm for showing up.

Not our willingness to support organizations doing important work.

Not our belief that most people are good.

And certainly not our joy.

So on this Monday morning, we are choosing to keep score a little differently.

A few pieces of merchandise were taken.

But kindness was given in abundance.

Time was given.

Generosity was given.

Compassion was given.

And several very lucky animals were given something immeasurably greater:

A home.

Perhaps that is this week’s Grace Note.

When given the choice between keeping score of what was taken and remembering what was given, choose what was given.

With grace — and gratitude,
Emily