AThanksgivingStory

　　ItwasthedaybeforeThanksgiving--thefirstonemythreechildrenandIwouldbespendingwithouttheirfather,whohadleftseveralmonthsbefore.Nowthetwoolderchildrenwereverysickwiththeflu,andtheeldesthadjustbeenprescribedbedrestforaweek.

　　Itwasacool,graydayoutside,andalightrainwasfalling.IgrewwearierasIscurriedaround,tryingtocareforeachchild:thermometers,juice,diapers.AndIwasfastrunningoutofliquidsforthechildren.ButwhenIcheckedmypurse,allIfoundwasabout$2.50--andthiswassupposedtolastmeuntiltheendofthemonth.That’swhenIheardthephonering.

　　Itwasthesecretaryfromourformerchurch,andshetoldmethattheyhadbeenthinkingaboutusandhadsomethingtogiveusfromthecongregation.ItoldherthatIwasgoingouttopickupsomemorejuiceandsoupforthechildren,andIwoulddropbythechurchonmywaytothemarket.

　　Iarrivedatthechurchjustbeforelunch.Thechurchsecretarymetmeatthedoorandhandedmeaspecialgiftenvelope.“Wethinkofyouandthekidsoften,”shesaid,“andyouareinourheartsandprayers.Weloveyou.”WhenIopenedtheenvelope,Ifoundtwogrocerycertificatesinside.Eachwasworth$20.Iwassotouchedandmoved,Ibrokedownandcried.

　　“Thankyouverymuch,”Isaid,aswehuggedeachother.“Pleasegiveourloveandthankstothechurch.”ThenIdrovetoastorenearourhomeandpurchasedsomemuch-neededitemsforthechildren.

　　Atthecheck-outcounterIhadalittleover$14.00worthofgroceries,andIhandedthecashieroneofthegiftcertificates.Shetookit,thenturnedherbackforwhatseemedlikeaverylongtime.Ithoughtsomethingmightbewrong.FinallyIsaid,“Thisgiftcertificateisarealblessing.Ourformerchurchgaveittomyfamily,knowingI’masingleparenttryingtomakeendsmeet.“

　　Thecashierthenturnedaround,withtearsinherlovingeyes,andreplied,“Honey,that’swonderful!Doyouhaveaturkey?”

　　“No.It’sokaybecausemychildrenaresickanyway.”

　　Shethenasked,“DoyouhaveanythingelseforThanksgivingdinner?”

　　AgainIreplied,“No.”

　　Afterhandingmethechangefromthecertificate,shelookedatmyfaceandsaid,“Honey,Ican’ttellyouexactlywhyrightnow,butIwantyoutogobackintothestoreandbuyaturkey,cranberrysauce,pumpkinpieoranythingelseyouneedforaThanksgivingdinner.”

　　Iwasshocked,andhumbledtotears.“Areyousure?”Iasked.

　　“Yes!Getwhateveryouwant.AndgetsomeGatoradeforthekids.”

　　IfeltawkwardasIwentbacktodosomemoreshopping,butIselectedafreshturkey,afewyamsandpotatoes

　　,andsomejuicesforthechildren.ThenIwheeledtheshoppingcartuptothesamecashierasbefore.AsIplacedmygroceriesonthecounter,shelookedatmeoncemorewithgianttearsinherkindeyesandbegantospeak.

　　“NowIcantellyou.ThismorningIprayedthatIcouldhelpsomeonetoday,andyouwalkedthroughmyline.”Shereachedunderthecounterforherpurseandtookouta$20bill.Shepaidformygroceriesandthenhandedmethechange.OncemoreIwasmovedtotears.

　　Thesweetcashierthensaid,“IamaChristian.Hereismyphonenumberifyoueverneedanything.”Shethentookmyheadinherhands,kissedmycheekandsaid,“Godblessyou,honey.”

　　AsIwalkedtomycar,Iwasoverwhelmedbythisstranger’sloveandbytherealizationthatGodlovesmyfami