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Holidays:  A true Christmas experience....  |
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hapyhrt
True Blue Farmgirl
129 Posts
USA
129 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 10 2005 : 07:15:00 AM
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Last December hubby and I had an experience that woke us up to the real meaning of Christmas of us. It was early December and the weather had been bitter cold though thankfully not alot of snow. One evening we were shopping at a store in a nearby community when we went to our car and parked in front of us was this old rusty car with duct tape and newspaper crammed into the window openings in the back. I got in our car thinking nothing much of it (obviously the after glow of a successful albeit, minimal expense gift shopping spree still whirling round my head) and before Dh could get into our car a woman approached him and asked if he had any change? Dh replied a hasty "sorry, I don't" and got in the car. When I asked him what the woman wanted he said she's looking for money. It was then I noticed the condition of her car and thought I better check to see what was going on with this woman. I got out and asked her why she needed the change and she replied, "for a pair of socks!" I was dumbfounded, a pair of socks I asked her? Yes she replied, my feet and ankles get so cold in my car that it wakes me through the night. I looked into her car and saw a shaggy Benji type dog and blankets, food wrappings, obvious signs that this woman was homeless! Oh my! I couldn't just turn away, not with the temps. going down below 0 degrees again that night! So, I told her "come with me, we'll get you some socks right now and told Dh what her and I were doing. The woman's face lit up and she was overjoyed with thankfulness for our help. Inside the store I asked her what else she needed and she replied sheeplishy, "may I please have some hotdogs to feed my dog, he gets hungry", being an animal lover I had a hard time from tearing up right then and there out of sadness for the woman and her dog. We went to the socks first and she wouldn't accept more than 1 pair and the cheapest at that! I tried to talk her into atleast a couple pairs of thick socks but she refused saying the cheaper ones would do just fine. Then we went to the meat counter and she picked up the cheapest hotdogs there, asked if it would be alright if she got 2 packs of the 0.66 cent hot dogs and I told her, go ahead and get 3 if you want! Her eyes sparkled with joy, then I asked her about some food for herself and she refused, saying she had ate some free samples given out at a grocery store nearby. I asked her how long she'd been living in her car and she said about 2 weeks. She had an apartment but had lost it when the rent was raised and she was on a (disability) fixed income.
I asked if she had family, and she said not close by and she didn't want them to know of her shame of becoming homeless due to them having their own troubles. My heart ached for this poor woman, I told her we'll see if we can find her some shelter atleast for the night and tomorrow somewhere to go for help. The store manager let me use their phone and I called every agency in the book for help. None would do anything but pass me along to another agency that was "guaranteed to help". Two hours later and the agencies were closing down for the night. I called emergency shelters but they were full, human services, national chapters of emergency services and even churches all to no avail. Either no one was there to answer the phones or they couldn't help her. The manager offered her food from their break room and she eagerly replied, how hungry she really was! This woman was a veteran of our country, a mother, grandmother and sister yet there was no one who would help her find shelter from the bitter cold. After she ate the manager made arrangements with a nearby motel for her to stay the night in. Knowing that I had done all I could and the hour was getting late I asked her if she would be alright, gave her my phone number and what money we had left from the shopping earlier.
I found out her name was Betty and her little dog was called Blue, he was on in years and very raggy looking. She said he was already deaf, half blind from cataracts and had lost some teeth so hotdogs was the only thing he'd eat. Having dogs of my own that are like children to hubby and I, my heart hurt for little "Blue" too.
We offered to show her the way to the motel but she said she'd find it just fine and was okay without us. I went home, thankful for all my blessings and thought about Betty & Blue. Unable to sleep I wrote a letter to the local newspapers via e-mail. The next morning there was still no replies, so I printed a copy of my letter and went to a privately run weekly newspaper office. Talked to the publisher and as she read my story her face showed her disbelief at what was going on. She asked if I could find the woman and if so to call her either at the office or home and she would be sure to get Betty the help she desperately needed.
The sunshine was bright but offered little heat through the bone chilling cold and sharp winds. Dh and I left the newspaper office and headed back to the store parking lot to see if Betty just might be there. Sure enough, her car was parked under a lamp post. The front windows had old newspaper covering them and I figured she had spent yet another night in her car. Gently, I tapped on the side window, and Betty jumped up throwing the blankets off herself quickly. I had startled her but when she realised it was me and Dh her face gave way to the biggest smile I'd ever seen on anyone before! I asked why she didn't go to the motel and she replied she had tried to find it but couldn't in the dark and didn't have the gas to keep looking so she came back to the parking lot instead. I told her that we would find her some help today and she wouldn't be sleeping in her car nor would little Blue. Inside the store she went to the restroom to freshen up and I used the payphone to call the publisher/editor of the newspaper. Thankfully she had good news, a community center in our hometown would help Betty as soon as we could get her over there! Hope began to rise in our hearts and we thanked God for leading us to the small weekly newpaper. We told Betty that there was a place that would help her and Blue and to follow us there. We stopped at a nearby gas station where she would only accept $5.00 in gas from us. Then we made our way to the community center. Once inside the woman greeted us warmly and we could feel the love and caring inside this center. From there we took Betty to the agencies the center told her to go to sign up for benefits. Once back at the center we left her to have her lunch there with these kind people, gave a donation to the center to help towards Betty's meals and left our phone number with them.
That night Betty called me from a motel room, she was so thankful and excited to have shelter from the cold for her and Blue. She asked if we could come over in the morning as she wasn't sure how to get back to the center. When we knocked on her motel door she opened it and gave us warm hugs. She was grateful for the warm bed, shower and TV. On the bed lay some groceries that she had bought with a voucher the center had given her. Blue was happy to have company and was finishing up his hotdog breakfast. We showed her the way to the center and went inside with her. The woman from the day before told us that they were looking for an apartment for Betty and hoped to find one soon but until then Betty would stay at the motel a few more nights. At the center they were putting up a christmas tree and Betty told me that she had never had a tree before and how beautiful this tree would be when decorated.
It was then Dh and I went to the store and bought her a small artificial tree along with lights and decorations and some small token gifts for her and Blue. That night we called her motel room and asked to come over for a quick visit. When she saw the packages and the bag with the tree she danced happily around the room, saying what a joyous Christmas it would be afterall! She lit the tree and danced somemore all the while hugging us and crying. I also had given her my own copy of a favorite "Chicken Soup For The Soul" book with an inscription from me inside the cover. When we left that night we knew that helping Betty was what God had wanted us to do. There was a reason we shopped at that other store outside our hometown, especially since we have the same chain store here but decided to drive the distance and shop at the other store. Faith and fate were working to bring us to Betty to help her out of the bitter cold.
After the holidays I didn't hear from Betty and the center said she had gone to her sisters for Christmas. Before long, we lost contact with her then one day late January a message was left on our answering machine...it was Betty! She called to say she had an apartment in another city and was doing fine and was still grateful for our help.
We haven't heard from Betty since the message left on the machine. Grateful that all turned out well and we were able to give what little we had to truly help a lonely soul in need, the miracle of last christmas lives on in our hearts and memory.
I'm sorry this is so long, but wanted to share this true story with anyone interested enough to read through it. Sharing it again, reminds me to always be grateful and thankful for the blessings bestowed upon us.
ps. the weekly newspaper did print my letter and we received some very kind responses. Also, the names have been changed to protect "Betty and Blue"'s identity since I have no way of contacting her for permission to use their real names.
*God Bless*
"Think HAPPY Thoughts...any others aren't worth your time!" Ü |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2005 : 08:42:02 AM
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Thank you for sharing that Sher...It is so sad in the wealthiest country on the planet there are people like Betty trying to survive. But then there are people like yourself and your husband with such a generous and kind spirit... Yes, that story is true Christmas...
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2005 : 10:17:02 AM
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What a great story. More people should respond the way you did.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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Morning_Dew
Farmgirl in Training
17 Posts
Karen
cottageville
sc
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2005 : 08:28:35 AM
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what a story, i'll admit made me cry. if every one person that was able to help some one less fortunate then them what a wonderous world this would be. Sher i'm sure will be much blesed for helping the hurting soul. you are a rare and wonderful heart
every gardener should make time for the humming BIRDS and honey BEES, stop and smell the flowers. |
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PJJ
True Blue Farmgirl
95 Posts
Paula
Bristow
OK
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2005 : 10:38:32 AM
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Sher, thank you for sharing the story. I cried as I read it. Blessings to you and your husband -- and to Betty and Blue (I have a Blue-dog of my own!).
Fondly,
pj
[/size=1]Paula J., with Ty, Cara, Brody, Blue, and Fidget |
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Heather
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Heather
Ontario
Canada
10 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2005 : 10:42:57 AM
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What a blessing you and your husband were to Betty and Blue. I'm crying out of sheer happiness that this situation turned out the way it did. I am so glad you were persistent in finding help for Betty...what a good heart you have |
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countrymamma
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Rural Manitoba
Canada
78 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 3:21:02 PM
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What a beautiful story. Brings tears to my eyes.
This is the type of stories Chicken Soup for the Soul loves. Have you ever thought of submitting it to them.
~Carol |
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sqrl
True Blue Farmgirl
605 Posts
Melissa
Northern California
USA
605 Posts |
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Mari-dahlia
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Marianne
Hoosick Falls
New York
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 04:05:08 AM
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Sher,
Thank you so much for sharing that experience. No matter how much money this country has or how many programs we setup, PEOPLE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE, no one else does it as well. It connects you with the world and the whole meaning of life and feeling. The government can't replace that, nor should they.
We should all be helping one another as you did. Wouldn't the world be a better place.
Thank you again.
I am also from upstate, where are you?
Marianne |
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Park Avenue
True Blue Farmgirl
57 Posts
Michele
Paradise Valley
Alberta
Canada
57 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 06:19:22 AM
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What a beuatiful story....I'm bawling like crazy. Mostly because I realise just how selfish my family is at the holidays!
Michele |
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bubblesnz
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
helen
New Zealand
291 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 8:47:28 PM
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sher,
What can I say that hasnt already been said. I am in tears too.Thank God for people like you. |
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Holidays: A true Christmas experience.... |
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A true Christmas experience....
