A Christmas miracle

Logan Dailey
Posted 12/23/20

Christmas is nearly upon us.

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A Christmas miracle

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Christmas is nearly upon us. The gifts are wrapped, the stockings are hung and the carolers are at home because of COVID-19. Despite all the nonsense and aggravating circumstances of this year, I learned of a story that brings home the meaning of Christmas.

We spend all year running around, working long hours and trying to get ahead. During this time of year, the world seems to slow down for a moment. Our families come together, reflect on the year with its many celebrations, births, losses and all that has happened. As everyone is aware, 2020 hasn’t been a glorious year for most nearly everyone, but now and again, we hear a story that reminds us there is still hope. 

A friend of mine recently delighted me by recounting a story involving a stranger’s love and good-will. This friend has requested to remain anonymous and would like me to keep their identity protected while still sharing this anecdote. The names used in this account are fictional.

An angel among us

A stressful year it has been with COVID-19 and all. Adding to the stress, Sally worked feverishly on decorating for Christmas, taking care of her family and getting Christmas presents for everyone, especially her daughter, Ann, who was soon to be a mother herself.

Sally asked Ann what she wanted for Christmas. Ann replied with a simple wishlist for Christmas; pajamas and a robe to wear at the hospital when the baby is born. 

Sally hung up the phone, put her shoes on and headed out the door. An hour and a half later, she pulled into the nearest Kohl’s retail store, 100 miles away. 

Sally walked down the aisles, looking at all the merchandise she could buy for her friends and family as Christmas gifts. Sally found the perfect robe and pajamas. They were soft, comfortable and would work splendidly to keep Ann and the newest addition to the family warm and comfy.

Sally made her purchases and headed home. The cold winter wind blew, and the snow whirled throughout the air the entire way. After a grueling and seemingly never-ending drive, Sally was finally home again. 

Sally got up the next morning, slid into her warm slippers and walked out to the car. She opened the back door and carried the bags into her living room. She put the items in piles to be wrapped and packaged together according to their intended recipient. 

Soon, Sally realized she was missing a couple of items. She began feverishly rummaging through the sacks and found she was missing the robe and pajamas. Her heart sank, and she began shaking her head in disbelief. 

Sally called the store and asked if they had found the bag containing the missing items. The cashier searched around the registers but was unable to locate the missing sack and items.

A female came on the line and asked if she could help. The female said she was the manager of the store. Sally explained her situation and began to sob. Sally told the female she was self-quarantining for two weeks so that she and her husband could see her daughter and was afraid she had lost the window of opportunity to shop for her daughter’s items. 

Sally thanked the manager for helping her and told her she understood she would have to find something else, being there wasn’t much time until Christmas. 

“Now, don’t you worry; I found everything, and I’m going to bring these items to you!” the manager said. 

“What?!” Sally thought. Sally told the manager, “no way.” Sally explained she lived 100 miles away from the store, but this wouldn’t deter the manager.

The manager asked Sally where she lived. Sally told her, and the manager told Sally her home was “on the way” to where she lived.

To Sally’s amazement, the manager later pulled into her driveway. Despite the six inches of snow that had previously fallen, the manager delivered a Christmas miracle to Sally and brought her the previously purchased gifts. It was incredible! The manager had saved Christmas for Sally.