My Christmas Story…

The center piece on my dining room table this Christmas was unique.  It was a grocery bag full of clothes and ninety cents. Here’s the story behind it...

It was Christmas Eve day and I was tasked with buying the last of the needed groceries.  I also had to stop over at a friend’s house and drop off a gift he had left in my car.  On the way to his house I passed a man walking down the side of the road.  He had on an old Michigan jacket and was carrying a bag of clothes.  I drove past him and cursed myself for not stopping and checking on him.

After dropping off the forgotten gift, I headed back into town and passed the same guy walking along the road.  It was cold outside and Christmas Eve, and something in me told me to turn around.  As I approached him I turned my car around and pulled beside him.

I asked if he needed a lift into town (six miles away) and he got in.  As we chatted he told me he was headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan which was three hours away.  He had his bag of clothes; he had a fight with a friend and was walking back to his parent’s house. Todd was 43 and had made some mistakes that were catching up to him.  He had only his driver’s license and ninety cents. That was it…

Well, I made a bit of a road trip that day.  I made some calls and drove him to Jackson, Michigan and got him on the bus to Grand Rapids.  He was on his way. Myself, I was late with my groceries and dinner was going to be delayed.

I told my family this story as they gathered around the table.  I explained to them to remember to be grateful for all the goodness and opulence in their lives.  Here was a man with all his worldly possessions in a paper bag and we were surrounded by a sea of wrapped gifts.  Take a minute, be grateful and remember all the treasures that you have in your life.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.