by Hattie Dyck
One of the blessings of Christmas is to be able to make it a special time for someone other than yourself, which is the real reason we still heed the biblical saying that it is more blessed to give than to receive. It is a blessing that the late Paul and his wife Betty Densmore of Noel Shore did for a little Truro boy at Christmas many years ago.
It was a cold, windy day in December when they came to town with their own children to do their Christmas shopping. The stores were crowded with holiday shoppers. There were lots of decorations on the light poles and store fronts. The air was filled with Christmas music and everywhere there were people laughing and talking. From a passers by perspective it seemed like an ideal Christmas shopping day during the holy season.. But, was it for everyone? The family soon found out it was not and some in that crowd needed some help and kindness.
The Densmores were in the line up at the former Metropolitan Store which used to be on the corner of Inglis and Prince Streets. They had already purchased most of their gifts including stocking stuffers for the children and were about to go home very satisfied with their shopping success.
Just before it was their turn at the counter Paul's ears perked up as he overheard the clerk talking to a little boy just ahead of them. The youngster was holding two little change purses in one tiny hand and was telling the clerk they were for his mother and sister for Christmas. The clerk had just been given the heartbreaking task of telling the seven or eight year old that he didn't have quite enough money for both of them. The dear little lad just stood there looking at her while he still clutched the purses. His vision of a present for his mother and sister was going down the drain before his very eyes.
Thankfully that didn't happen. Paul took some money out of his pocket and gave it to the child, told him to pay for the purses and keep the change. Paul suggested it might be enough to buy another Christmas gift for someone. The family watched him go out the door with his gifts and put the change into the salvation army kettle nearby.
Who knows who benefited from that random act of kindness? Certainly, the child, his mother and sister would as did Paul and Betty and their two boys as they participated in a real life story of kindness and the benefits of gift sharing.
The salvation army would have a bit more money to share with those in need. And maybe the clerk really benefited as she didn't witness tears and disappointment of a child who didn't have quite enough money to buy his Christmas gifts.
Comments