The Christmas Kindness of a Total Stranger

The holiday seasons can evoke so many emotions this time of year.  There's the stress of getting all the decorating done, the perfect gifts purchased and wrapped, and all the food baked.  Not mention all of the holiday parties from work to just a small simple gathering of friends.  It's so easy to get caught up in what we have to accomplish that it's so easy  to forget the true meaning of Christmas.  I am so thankful that I have a very special reminder each year when I start unpacking the mounds of Christmas decorations.  Oh, the joy and sadness of unwrapping this little Christmas doll each year.

When I see this little doll, I am reminded of the amazing kindness of total strangers.   The photo of the doll above has such  special meaning to my family and me.  Her blonde hair is starting to get unruly in a few places, and this year I had to glue the bottom of her little boots back on her feet.

My husband's grandmother gave our daughter this little doll years ago.  Like so many retired people living on a fixed income, they had to watch every penny they spent.  This was back in the day, when grocery stores still gave away those little green stamps.  For you young ones reading this, you have probably never even seen those green stamps.   Yes, I am definitely showing my age with this post.  My own grandmother gave me tons of these stamp books to buy necessities for my first college dorm room!

So "Ma" saved her green stamps each week at the grocery store to purchase this little doll.  She was so excited to get this doll for my daughter.  She was her only great-granddaughter out of four great-grandchildren.   She thought the doll looked just like her with that long blonde hair, and she just had to have this doll.  After saving her stamps for months, the day finally came to go make her purchase she had been saving for so long.   Off to the store she went, and to her dismay the lady at the counter told her she didn't have enough books of stamps to purchase it.  The heartbreak must have  shown all over her face, because as she headed out the door, a total stranger stopped her.  She had heard the conversation, and that sweet stranger gave her the stamps she needed to make the purchase!

As I look at this beautiful, but slightly worn doll, I see the generosity of a very kind, sweet lady who made that possible.  Without her kindness, this treasured doll would not have a special place in our home each Christmas.  Ma is no longer with us, but her presence is still felt each year as our eyes gaze upon this precious reminder.  One of these days, my daughter will move out and start her own home.  I know that I will have to part with this special doll that has come to mean so much to me.  The true meaning of Christmas will still live on for generations to come, all because of the kindness of a stranger.

This is also a reminder of the ripple effect of one kind deed.   Through her generosity and kindness, this stranger touched the lives of many in our family.  It is a time for me to pause and ask myself what kind act can I do for others?  What can I do to be a blessing to others and make their Christmas brighter by sharing with them the true meaning of Christmas?

Do you have a special Christmas story to share?  I would love for you to share it!  Thank you so much for stopping by.  I love your visits.

                                                                           Kathy