Jim and I were thrilled when our granddaughter Sarah announced her wedding. We couldn’t wait to contribute and make her day special.
However, everything took an unexpected turn when we received a letter from Sarah that left us heartbroken. The letter contained a $5,000 check along with a harsh message demanding money for a vacation with her fiancé, calling the gifts we had given her over the years “cheap” and “crappy.”
We had always done our best to support Sarah, even though we weren’t wealthy. Over the years, we had gifted her family heirlooms, handmade quilts, and helped her with education costs.
We thought she appreciated our efforts. As we sat at the kitchen table, reading the letter, we felt a mix of anger and hurt. Jim couldn’t believe it. “After everything we’ve done for her?” he asked, disappointed.
Despite the pain, we knew we needed to act. We decided to gather all the meaningful gifts we had given Sarah over the years. We started with the quilts—each one made with hours of care.
Then, we collected the family jewellery, like the gold necklace I had given her for her graduation. We added photos from family vacations and even the bike we had given her when she was 10.
Once everything was packed, Jim stopped the payment on the check, and I wrote Sarah a letter explaining why we had made this decision. We mailed the box, hoping it would teach her a lesson in respect and gratitude.
The next day, Sarah called, furious, accusing us of ruining her life and wedding. We tried to explain, but she hung up. Some family members sided with Sarah, but others supported us. We believed we had done the right thing and hoped Sarah would eventually understand the importance of gratitude.
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