Her Happiest Birthday Yet

I have a good friend who looks after her grown sister who has mental retardation. These two sisters grew up poor – when we take up a collection for a family in distress through my church, my friend often says she knows what it feels like to be on the receiving end of charity. But neither of the sisters has had to worry about being poor for a long time.

My friend’s sister had a birthday last month and had the great joy to go shopping with $120 she had received in birthday cash. It was the week before Thanksgiving and she had seen the front page picture of a very empty Loaves & Fishes warehouse. Can you guess the rest? Yes, she spent the whole $120 on groceries to donate to Loaves & Fishes. And not just any groceries; all the things she remembered wanting when she was a young girl and times were tough for her family.

In the abundance of giving this season I can’t think of a more meaningful gift than this one – all her birthday money, and a generous heart. Isn’t that what Christmas is supposed to be about?