12 Days of Christmas- Day 3

Hello middle of the week...come on weekend! This week seems to be dragging on a bit but I can see the end is in sight!

Today is day 3 of Aly and Molly's 12 day's of Christmas.

Today's topic

Meaningful/Memorable gift(s):

First off I would like to start by saying, I am a very lucky girl. My parents work really hard and I am thankful for everything they have given me in my life. They have really instilled alot of values into me and to me that is the greatest gift I have ever received.

I think my most memorable gift as a child is the years that my parents got my brother and I a trip(s) to Disney. We were so excited, especially the first time we ever went.

I have a couple of really meaningful gifts that come to mind.

1. One year when Dad and I went to Disney I saw this snow globe of Cinderella's castle and fell in love with it.

It was REALLY expensive and even though Dad had offered to get it for me I denied wanting it so that he wouldn't spend all that money. Never thinking anything more of it we went about the rest of the trip. The next winter I was opening a gift at Christmas time and it was the snow globe! I was so excited I started crying. At the bottom Dad had wrote a sweet message to me. I still have it at home and it will always be a symbol to me of my Dad's love.

2. This is not Christmas related at all but it brings tears to my eyes everytime I retell this story.

I was living out is British Columbia for the summer a few years ago. I was not happy and very homesick. I had made the decision to break up with my then boyfriend (of 2 years) and move back home to Quebec. I had felt like a failure. I thought I was going to make it out west and I had thought people would think I was weak for coming home.

I loaded up my Jeep Liberty and hit the road for the long drive across Canada. I would drive 16 hours a day, stop at a motel, sneak my puppy in the room with me (because most said dogs weren't allowed) and then stay up all night with my hand over the dogs mouth to try to get him to stop barking. I would wake up the next day and do it all over again, but with no sleep.

I woke up on the third day and I was broken. I was tired, heart broken, and feeling very depressed. I picked up my stuff and headed out to my Jeep to get ready for another day of driving. Except now, my Jeep was frozen, snow covered and I didn't have a scrapper. I started scraping my car with my finger nails, tears streaming down my face.

Just then a tall, beer bellied, full bearded man walked out of the motel and to his truck that was parked beside me. His truck had been scrapped and running. He looked like he was a sales man, ready to hit the road. Just as I was cleaning the back window I hear this deep man's voice;

"Excuse me Miss? I found these in my truck and thought you might like to have them?" Handing me a pair of gloves.

I was kind of in a daze with teary eyes and I took them from him. He smiled at me, grabbed the side of my arm and with a gentle squeeze told me to take care on the road today.

It may seem really silly, I mean I know it was just a pair of old farm gloves but at that very moment I needed his kindness. It lifted my spirits and I was able to peacefully continue on the road.

I never got that strangers name and I am sure he will never know the impact he had on me that day (and to this day) but I do thank God for that man being there that morning. It really showed me how the smallest gift/act of kindness can have such an impact on a complete stranger.

Note: I still have that meaningful pair of gloves safely stored away in my house.

xo