Stories of Kindness from Around the World

An Unusual Christmas Gift For Me


--by nikikaren, posted Jan 12, 2015
On Christmas eve and Christmas day I found myself alone. This was a first for me. I am 63 years old and had never been alone for any holiday, especially not Christmas. It was my mother's favorite day of the year and she died 2 years ago.

I had created bags of necessities for homeless people days before with the idea of giving them out during the cold weather we are experiencing. But, on Christmas eve I ventured out to find folks who needed something to give them hope for their lives. My zip lock plastic bags contained protein bars, tooth brush and paste and hair brush and candy and tissues and baby wipes and candles and razors and shaving cream and lotion and lip balm and shampoo and a Christmas card which read "No matter how bad things get, Remember that somebody loves you".

I had about 35 of these bags and set out. Went to one smaller community near me and found about four very grateful men, sitting or walking alone. I then went to another small town south and was driving down the main strip. I saw an elderly woman walking in a bright orange coat pushing a shopping cart. She looked well kempt and groomed, but she had an dog in the basket and bags of stuff, too. I gave her a gift bag and asked her if she had a place to stay tonight. She said that as a matter of fact she did not. She stated that she had stayed the night before at a motel 6 up the street, but that that morning her husband could not walk so she called 911 and he was taken away. She said that the church where her husband had retired as minister was helping but they had run out of funds. I called the hospital to find out how her husband was, since she had no phone. He was being treated for an infection and was ok. I went to the Motel 6 and asked what was the cheapest they could give her a room for . The answer was $64. I was shocked. I paid for a room for her and her dog and told her I would pray for her and her husband to get housing soon and for his health. She thanked me over and over and was munching on the candy when I left.

I was so glad to have run into her on the street. I drove to another larger city after that (65,000) and was shocked to find any, many young people homeless there. Many young women. I gave out as many gift bags as I could before dark. What I noticed was the surprise and the smile and gratitude in their eyes and their words as I handed them my little gift.

I have committed to doing this year around now. I will commit to buying small bottles and containers of hygiene products and power bars and candy and candles for keeping bags in my care year round. I will add water bottles to my bags, which I did not think of before. And I will surely include the most important part, the card with the simple statement "Somebody love you". Thanks for reading and I hope this insights a epidemic of gift bags year round for the homeless folks out there. They all need our help and our hope.
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Readers Comments

antenbunny wrote: Wonderful story. Know you have been an angel in someones life.
Lauren wrote: You are amazing!
h.wirrell wrote: What a beautiful idea. Thank you for sharing - and you've inspired me to do this next christmas.
butterfly4evr wrote: You're blessed with a wonderful spirit. Thank you for being you.
muraribahl wrote: Great job. May god bless you
lindariebel wrote: What an example you are setting.
Lakshmi wrote: What a great inspiration! Thanks for sharing, i'm always thinking about ways to remember my mom and this is the kind of act i remember her doing. I will do the same in her memory.
Please keep sharing your acts.

Have a great sunshiny day!
Deepak wrote: Thank you for being who you are.
Deepak wrote: Thank you for being who you are.
Kristin Pedemonti wrote: Thank you for sharing what was needed and also for sharing your heart and seeing the human being in front of you. I too have done this in several us cities, sharing hot soup, clean socks, hugs and conversation. Just sitting and listening. My own income has been quite low,however we always have arms to reach out and hug and ears to listen and even something small to share. Thank you again for your beautiful story.

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