Christmas Magic

She was standing on the corner at a traffic light and I pulled up beside her. She was about 30 years old and wearing a large black puffy coat with a hood. Her simple sign asked for financial help. I do not normally give away money in this manner, but something stirred inside of me.

Yes, we have had a hard economic year ourselves. We have learned big lessons in living our lives with what we NEED, not what we want. But, I was driving a car, with gas in it, with the heat on and listening to a Christmas CD. I was on my way to buy a pair of shoes for my 6 year old because I had the money to do so. And here she was with a simple smile in the cold wind just waiting for a kind gesture.

I opened the window and handed her $5. She said, "God bless you" as I rolled up my window. For a moment I was worried that I had just given $5 to someone who might use it for something other than necessities. Then, my 6 year old son asked me why I gave her some money. "I don't know!", I wanted to say. Instead I just told him that sometimes people have a tough time and need help and it's good to give to people even if you don't know them.

"Maybe she will use the $5 to buy a pair of shoes", my son said. "Maybe she will", I said as I looked back at him in the rear view mirror. "Or maybe, she can find a pair of shoes for $3 and get a pair of socks for $2". He had no doubt that she would use that small amount of money for something she truely needed. He made a believer out of me!

I BELIEVE! Merry Christmas.

Crazy, Busy, Mama ("CBM")
Kathy