“I remember hearing a woman talk about her near-death experience. She had been fixated on her looks and had abused her body with diet pills. When she had her experience, she was given a very important message. All the little things she had done over the years – all the random acts of kindness – mattered. Not winning the gold medal at the cheerleading competitions. Not the things that she thought were so important. It was the things she did each day for others. Helping a little old lady across the street. It is the acts of goodwill, the selfless acts, which show a person’s true goodness and character. Godliness is when we exhibit kindness and love for others.”
The Man Behind the Story of Father Christmas
At this time of the year, I am deeply grateful for all that I have.
Christmas can be a tough time of year for a lot of people. I often think about Saint Nick—the man behind the story of Father Christmas.
St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in a place called Myra in Asia Minor (now called Turkey). He was a very rich man because his parents died when he was young and left him a lot of money. He was also a very kind man and had a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. There are several legends about St. Nicholas, although we don’t know if any of them are true!1
One of my husband’s friends buys groceries for a shelter for battered women every week. The house is a safe haven for abused women and children. Not very many people know that he does this. He doesn’t want the fanfare or the ego stroke. He keeps it very quiet. I am so impressed by his generosity and giving heart.
For Christmas, he has asked others if they would like to buy gifts for the women and children in the shelter for Christmas. My husband and I wanted help out. The women have left terrible situations with no place to go and are in desperate need. I thought it was a great idea.
We went shopping last night at the Hudson Bay store. Many clothing items were on sale. We chose some great items—brand name sweaters, dresses and pants. I was so grateful that we are in a position to help someone less fortunate.
When I got to the checkout, I mentioned to the young gentleman, the sales cashier, that the items were for a young woman at a shelter for Christmas. Right away he said, “What a great cause.” He proceeded to give me a further 15% off! I was so impressed by his random act of kindness. He didn’t have to do that. He could not have cared. He could have done a lot of things. But he chose to do something to help.
There are a lot of good people in this world. I believe that in my heart.
For anyone that has followed me on my journey of healing, it is a time for me to thank you. Thank you for letting me be part of your story and your life. I am deeply grateful for your support.
Peace.