Many years ago there was a young mother with three little children. Christmas was days away and she didn’t know what to do. She had finally gotten the courage to leave her abusive husband, but it had left her with little to no money. The divorce fees were mounting quickly and it was only just the beginning of what would be a very long journey. She had three little children she was struggling to feed and she was desperately trying to find a way to tell her children why Santa wouldn’t be coming this year.
Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse a bag of food was placed on the doorstep. This may not seem like much, but it meant the world to her. She could barely afford to buy groceries as it was. If nothing else the burden was just a little bit lighter for a few days.
A few days later, tears streamed down her face as she opened an envelope to find $100 that had anonymously been placed in their mailbox. This simple act of kindness was the difference that made it possible for her three little children to have Christmas that year. This woman was my mother. I will never begin to imagine what she went through that year. Adversity was her constant companion, but she handled each trial with grace. To this day we will never know who placed those things on our doorstep, all those years ago. But we will be forever grateful to them, because they taught us the true meaning of Christmas that year.
As you go about your Christmas day, try to remember the real reason we celebrate this beautiful holiday. Think of the sweet angels in your life. They are all around us. Sometimes you never get the opportunity to meet them, but they are there spreading love throughout the world one act of kindness at a time. Merry Christmas!