When I was eight, my class held a Christmas gift exchange. My family was so poor that we couldn’t afford a gift, so I wrapped one of my father’s old books in recycled gift paper and gave it to my classmate. She, in turn, had given me the most recent Barbie. When she saw my gift, she burst into tears.
The next day, her mother arrived at school, looking serious and asking for me. When she noticed me, she immediately smiled and softened her look. She handed me a bag full of toys, including Barbie’s matching automobile, a Ken doll, and brand new holiday attire. I felt overwhelmed.
It did not end there. I was shocked when she told me to wait after school because she was taking me and her kid to lunch—I couldn’t believe it. It was my first time in a restaurant. Her daughter, who had before been upset, was suddenly kind to me, and we became good friends. Despite the fact that we now live in different towns, we remain friends.
That mother’s goodwill was the first time I experienced the wonder of Christmas. I have never forgotten it. Now that my family is financially established, I pay it forward every year by assisting a youngster in need over the holidays.
