That is “us” in 2008. It is my favorite family Christmas picture from that year.  Our youngest did NOT want his picture taken and was making faces in every photo unbeknownst to us.  We look like a happy normal family, by looking at that picture, no one would know that we were really struggling financially that year.

Here is the amazing story of our Christmas Miracle…

When we moved to the Charlotte area in 2007, my husband had a contract job with BOA.  When the economy tanked in 2008, the contracts were all cancelled and work was difficult to find.  As the months passed we ate through our savings, quite literally.  With four young boys to feed we quickly found ourselves low on funds.

To put food on our table, I went to our local area food pantry, Clover Area Assistance. To this day, those trips were the most humbling moments of my life.  It took a lot of courage to walk through those doors and accept the help of others. I would sit in silence, keeping to myself, doing everything I could to keep the tears inside.

The holiday season was approaching and a school counselor, who knew our circumstances, called me to ask if my 4 children could be put on the school’s mitten tree.  “It is anonymous, and they would each receive a gift, please tell me their sizes, favorite color and one wish item”, she said.  My chest felt tight with emotion.  I gratefully said, “yes”. Again, needing help to give Christmas to my children felt so humbling. It broke me inside.

During the last week before school let out for winter break, I went to the school to pick up the already wrapped presents.  I was completely overwhelmed when I saw 20 beautifully wrapped gifts waiting for me. I had expected one per child. The abundance overwhelmed me. I felt my body buckle inside, like I might lose my footing.  I could feel tears fill my entire being, I swallowed down what I could and wiped what escaped as I loaded my minivan.  I was so thankful that others provided for my children what we could not that year. It was a wonderful Christmas Miracle.  I felt surrounded by the spirit of love, giving and receiving.

I was beyond thankful, but felt that stockings would be missing and wished that I could do that for my children as stockings were always a special tradition for us. I felt selfish and greedy for the thought, but I did say a prayer asking for a way to do stockings for them. I wanted to give them the Christmas they were used to.  I wanted to protect them from the fear and lack I felt.

Two days later, I opened my front door to find a huge blue felt drawstring sack with our name and snowflakes embroidered in white thread on the front it filled with small items and candy.  It was another Christmas Miracle, I felt like I was in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I called my sister Nancy and told her the story and cried, laughed and rejoiced celebrating the goodness of others and the Divine.

We were down to our last $500, which would not cover mortgage, utilities etc for the next month, but we had paid our bills for the December and Christmas was complete.  We could breathe easier for a few weeks. The dark cloud had lifted a bit and we decided to focus and enjoy the holiday.  By this time when I said my prayers I would say, “whatever is for our best, you know where we need to be” and let it go.  It was a shaky but sincere prayer.

Clarence (the angel) talking to George Bailey:

“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

A few days before Christmas and we received a holiday card in the mail mixed in with others wishing us happy holiday with pictures and stories of the past year.  Nothing out of the ordinary, until I opened it.  Inside contained enough to cover our January mortgage.  It was from my brother-in-law, his wife and their friends (strangers to us) wishing us a happy holidays. We were blown away, it was a complete surprise to us.  Again, the tears flowed and rejoicing began.  They had been out to dinner with friends and mentioned our circumstances and these wonderful strangers decided to gather funds and send it to us for the holidays.  We were absolutely blown away. Again, I called my sister.  By this time we were both in a surreal state of excitement saying, “oh my god, another Christmas Miracle” and laughing hysterically because it felt crazy and exciting and wonderful and amazing.

During this entire time my husband had been looking for work, jobs, contracts, etc.  Applying and doing interviews. AND, a day or two after the card arrived, my husband received a call from BOA and was given a new contract.  It was our final and best Christmas Miracle, I felt like I was in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  At the end of the film, George is surrounded by his community showering love and generosity on him and his family.  Through his difficulty and trying to find the solution on his own, he found it through the help of others.

Often we have more than we need. Often we want to give or help another but way too often they do not let us know they need help. I am like this.  During that season, I kept to myself.  I did not communicate to others our struggle or my fears.  I suffered in the privacy of my own home, crying out to God.  I would go to the store with a set amount of money and count the pennies as I shopped.  I remember asking Source, when I am in a better place, please let me remember this, please help me see when I am out and about shopping etc, the one who needs a helping hand.  It was such an awful, lonely and helpless feeling.

What I learned, is people want to help in ways that they can.  I learned that when a small group of people pull together it can change a life or circumstance.  I learned, I need to ask for help and learn to receive (still working on this).  I learned that the Universe is for me (us) and wants to bless us with an abundant and fulfilling life.  I wrote before about my scarcity mindset….this story was the beginning of seeing and breaking through that.  Through this circumstance, Source provided in many new ways.  I wasn’t always comfortable with it, but I was always abundantly provided for.

My children remember that Christmas and now know the full story.  They say it was one of their favorite Christmases ever.  I think they felt our joy, gratitude and humility that Christmas.  I will forever be so grateful to all the strangers that made it so special.  Maybe they are reading this or maybe someone reading this has done the same for others…to you I say, “thank you”.

Pa Baily:

All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.

I watch this every year….reminds me of so many wonderful life lessons.  Happy Holidays to ALL Wishing you love, joy, peace and abundance this season and the year through.