Christmas brings to mind gifts. Everyone loves presents and most people can easily remember some of their favorites right away.
For instance, I’ve never forgotten the year I got a Barbie dream house. I loved all things Barbie as a child, and I remember being blown away to see the orange and yellow mansion when I woke Christmas morning.
I can remember getting my first pair of diamond earrings. I never wanted to take them off and felt quite fancy every time I glimpsed my sparkling ear lobes in a mirror.
But even those great gifts are not my favorite or most memorable. My best gift came in the form of a white bicycle with yellow daisies on the wicker basket attached to the front. The real present wasn’t the bike, but what it taught me, a lesson I would remember for all times.
I can easily recall the months leading up to Christmas when I was five years old. They were months of transition and hardship. They were days that opened a young girls eyes to how hard life can be.
I had watched my biological father leave for an errand and not return.
I had watched my mother sitting over a pile of bills, wine glass in hand, crying when she thought I wasn’t looking.
I was young, but even small children can pick up easily on what’s happening around them. I knew we couldn’t afford groceries. I knew we had no family near by to lend a hand. I knew not to ask for anything for Christmas because I knew there was no money that year.
I was still a happy child, for the most part. My Mom read to me every night. We did fun things like walking on the beach gathering shells, things that didn’t cost a dime. I can remember being excited that year to make M&M cookies for our friends for Christmas presents. Mom taught me it was the thought and love you put into a gift that meant the most. I wasn’t expecting a purchased gift that year, but I knew Mom would make it special regardless, and I was just fine with that.
I think sometimes it’s hard to see the needs of others. We grow hardened hearts not even meaning to do it. We become aware of the circumstances of lack, a family in need, and we will balk at lending a hand. We think, They could do better for themselves if they really wanted to. We assume someone’s circumstances are in relation to a mistake they’ve made, and justify standing back and allowing tough love to be our stance. We often withhold assistance not wanting to enable behavior we imagine must be the cause of such dire straights.
Less than a year prior to that Christmas my mother had been a pre med student on the Dean’s list with her research work published in medical journals. Then, she wasn’t.
You can never know what circumstances brought someone from one place to another. And really, it doesn’t matter. Even if their circumstances are a direct affect of their wrongful actions; I don’t believe it negates the act of giving to help another.
That Christmas Eve my mother was off work, but she was surprised by a phone call to come in. They had found a tray of samples that had not been run, and stated the results were needed as soon as possible for a pressing research matter. She would need to come in. “It should only take an hour tops” they had pleaded. Without a sitter on such short notice, they had agreed she could bring me along.
When we arrived to the laboratory we were greeted by a gentleman in a lab coat and Santa hat. He led me to the most magnificent thing I had ever seen.
There amongst the cylinders and bunsen burners stood the most perfect bicycle I had ever seen. Complete with training wheels and white and yellow tassels dangling from the handle bars, it sat in expectation of a young rider to set it free. When he explained it was mine I think I nearly fainted. I’m sure my mother nearly did as well.
As it was, tears streamed from her face while her co-workers shuffled in one at a time offering hugs all around. A little girl’s Christmas dream had been granted by the kindness and giving spirit of others.
They did have a tray of test tubes as well, the assumed samples no doubt. But as my mom set to work on them later she discovered each tube was filled with rolled up money.
Things eventually improved for us. That next year we would spend Christmas among family and Mom wouldn’t cry near as much.
But a little girl would never forget the year her Christmas present came when she least expected it. It showed her that good people were in this world. She saw the spirit of giving, the true meaning of Christmas exemplified.
This year if you have the chance to give unexpectedly to someone in need, please do. You never know what your simple act of generosity may mean to another person’s life.
You can never tell when your gift may touch a life forever, showing the spirit of Christ.
That is all 🙂
Mary doty says
All I can say is tears!!! Wow!!! I pray for the opportunity!! Love you and thank you for sharing such a heart warming story of giving!!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for reading. Glad you enjoyed. It also reminded me that I should return the favor more often.
Ruth young says
Ok! Bring out the kleenix!! The best yet!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you 🙂
Michael Wilson says
Truly, the real spirit of Christmas. Thank you for sharing.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for reading.