Many of you know that my daddy got sick with colon cancer back in 1958. He was admitted to the hospital with a ruptured bowel and was never to work again. He lived for two more years and for the three of us...our world turned upside down. There was no disability insurance for him and my mother had to take maid jobs and we were forced to sell our car. Money was not something I had really worried about before that time. My daddy was an elevator operator so he didn't make that much money, but we had lots of love in our house. They had adopted me as a baby.My daddy got sick in October and when Christmas came around my mother received a $100. cashiers check in the mail. It was totally anonymous. We were shocked and she was so confused that she went to the bank that it was drawn from. I remember us going in the bank and my mother showing the teller the cashiers check and then she ushered us to a bank executive. I remember the look on my mother's face when the bank executive told her that the person must not want to be identified. My mother wanted to make sure we thanked the donor properly. We left the bank and my mother told me that the Lord must have laid it on some one's heart. We prayed for the anonymous person.
For another five years my mother received cashiers checks for $100 at Christmas. To us, that was a huge amount of money. We never knew who sent us the money. We were so grateful, but we would have loved to thank that person. Monday will be the 30th anniversary of my mother's death and I have never forgotten what a difference that $100 made to us each Christmas. That's been fifty years and I imagine the anonymous person has probably passed on also. That money was a true blessing to us and I have never forgotten.
My mother trusted in the Lord to supply our needs and He always did. Although she's been gone from me for thirty years there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her and miss her sweet loving care for me. Those of you that still have your mother and father are blessed. Please don't take it for granted. As tears roll down my face, I wish I could spend just one hour with her again. I have to remind myself that we will have eternity together with the Lord!
24 comments:
What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it. Blessings...Strider
That is the sweetest story ever!! How awesome is that. What a great reminder to be silent givers!!
Beautiful memory! Thanks for sharing it with us all! Have a great day!
*tear*
Lovely story.
Both my parents are gone - mama, as you know, still has her mother. She is such a blessing. This year we hope to make this a season of giving. THanks for sharing your memories.
I know just how you feel Trish...my mom died (hate that word!) in 1971. Momma had colon cancer like your dad. Can't wait to see her again!
Wonderful story of the $100 gifts. My mom told me that when they were going to the Baptist Seminary and were quite poor. Checks would show up in the mailbox just the same way, anonymous....milk in the milk box...
Knowing what I know about you ...your Momma and your Daddy would be so proud of the woman you have become!
Christmas Blessings!!
What a lovely story, and in keeping with the season. I love stories like this, and it is an awesome thing to think that we could be the anonymous givers that change the memories of others.
That's great somebody noticed!! Usually it takes about 20lbs before people start to really take notice. Just make mini goals...5-10pounds...more celebrations that way and doesn't seem so insurmountable.
LeAnn is excited about it...waiting on Lorie...it's a busy time. I'm working on setting it all up. I'll keep you posted.
Your story really blessed my heart Trish. I too have lost my mother and father. I think of them everyday!
I'll tell Dustye you said hi, she's getting up the energy to post again, I keep encouraging her.
;)
Merry Christmas!
Awe... God is so good! It is so wonderful to see how God works in mighty ways when we listen to Him. The sweet, generous giver listened to the Lord and received great reward! Your family saw how faithful the Lord is!
What a great reminder to listen to God's heart, give generously, do so in order that God receives all the glory and to be mindful of others' needs. May God help me to be just like the annonomous giver.
Thank you Trish for sharing this... it blessed me.
Julie
Wonderful post and thank you for sharing.
That anonymous person was wonderfully answering prayer and doing God's will.
That is what Christmas is all about.
What a great memory and a beautiful post and tribute. Know, dear sister, you are in our prayers, as you celebrate Christmas. crying now....~T
{Tears} Blessings, dear friend.
Oh my gosh, that story made me cry!! What a sweet thing for that person to do!
What a beautiful story, Trish!
(100 dollars was a huge amount of money back then - a month's salary for my father and 2 months or more for most working women.)
oh, bless you! this is such a touching story. my heart goes out to you. i know that i am one of the lucky ones to have both my parents alive and i cherish the time we have together!
what if each of us made the vow to give a cash gift anonymously each year? what a way to change the world!
Thanks for sharing that story! It is so good to hear the difference a 'random act of kindness' has made in someone's life. We are encouraging our 'small group' to practise 'random acts of kindness' this Christmas. We won't know how the recipients feel...but hopefully it blesses them, as you were blessed!
Thank you for sharing your story. May you have a blessed Christmas.
That was a thoughtful thing for someone to do! I would have to track them down somehow (we have ways you know ... everybody leaves a paper trail in their lives). Anyway, I believe that when good things like this happen to us, we should Pay It Forward and help someone less fortunate than ourselves. I've had SO MANY people be kind to me through the years that I've tried to live my life that way too. One doesn't have to be extravagant, just KIND and generous as much as one can. This pleases God.
Thanks for sharing such an endearing story. It brought tears to my eyes too. ♥ ∞
That is a wonderful story! Isn't it great the different ways that God blesses us?!
Thanks, Trish. It was a fun day but a very LONG day. I am not used to having two very active little boys all day long. I love them but they sure do wear me out. And...yes...it won't be long now before we see Jake again. He called tonight. He has been out in the field...doing the camping thing. I know they have some Army term for it...he sounded so good and he had some pretty funny stories about that as well. We are taking his girlfriend with us to pick him up. I just hope I can have the decorum to stand back and let them greet each other first. Do you think it would be harmful to my reputation if I knocked her down trying to get to him? I thought so....LOL Thanks for counting down with me friend. Have a wonderful week and stay warm! God bless you.
Such a beautiful articulation of your Christmas memories. That person who sent the cheques may have passed on, but I'm sure they are secure in the bosom of our Lord.
It's sad at this time, but our memories make it bearable.
Kat
That is a perfect story for this time of year. It is wonderful to see how someone’s gift, has keep on giving to bless your precious heart all these years. I too will never stop missing my folks.
Oh NT, that is a great story....what a miracle in your life that was.
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