The kindness of strangers
Miracles can happen any day of the year, of course. But what better time than this most spiritual of seasons to tell of them? Here are your true stories of angels and their blessings.
Christmas angels
On Christmas Eve 1997, newly separated from my husband, I was driving on a highway with my three children when I heard my daughter Meagan ask two-year-old Josh, "Why are you shaking?" He was having a seizure! I pulled over and as I was unbuckling the car seat restraint a car pulled up and a man and woman offered to get me to the nearest hospital. We arrived with Josh still convulsing in my arms. When Josh was stabilized, I looked around for the people who had helped. They were gone. My two Christmas angels had vanished.
-- Catherine St. Louis, Ottawa
Generous neighbours
My mom was a single parent with eight kids. Money was tight. One Christmas my mom got a knock on the door; when she opened it there was a bag of presents, all wrapped. This went on for about three years in a row and finally my mom found out it was the old "grumpy" couple down the road who were so generous. Now that we are adults, every year all of us kids give generously to charity. One act of kindness is passing on.
-- Kim Tatton, Craighurst, Ont.
Supportive friends
My angels are the gals at the best quilt store in the world, Gone to Pieces in St. Catharines, Ont. My mom died of cancer on March 20, 2004, and on April 11, 2004, my beautiful 17-year-old daughter was killed in a car collision. I felt like I was in pieces. But Nancy Nigh and all the women who work and shop in her store were there for me –- to cry or laugh with, sometimes with just a kind word or lunch at the café next door. They helped me express myself through quilting and I have made some wonderful quilts that were donated to charities. Thank you to all my angels!
-- Betty M. Penner, Vineland Station, Ont.
When you least expect help
We had just moved to Alberta. I was lucky to immediately obtain work at the local grocery store. My husband had a stroke just before moving and his doctor had made arrangements for him to see a specialist in Edmonton. We had no vehicle and our new residence was a two-hour drive from Edmonton. All the car rental agencies required cash up front, or a credit card to put on file. I had neither, but felt I could probably get an advance at work. I approached my boss the following day. He said he would look into it, and to check with the payroll office before I left my shift that day. When I asked the woman in the payroll office, she told me no advance had been authorized. I felt utterly defeated; tomorrow was the appointed day. My face must have revealed my feelings because this kind lady told me to have a seat. Then she said, "I know it is not my business, but why do you need this advance?" I explained. She smiled and said, "No problem, you may use my car. It is the purple Ford at the west end of the parking lot. It has a full tank of gas and is fully insured. I take it you have a driver's licence?" I stammered, "Yes, but you do not know me!" Ms. Cameron laughed and responded. "You work here –- I know where to find you! Now, do you need any cash for travelling? Of course you do!" And she pulled out her cheque book and wrote me a cheque for $100. "My car should make it to Edmonton and back on that tank of gas. Here are the keys." I know I have never had the opportunity to meet another person quite like Ms. Cameron. To me she was an angel!
-- Rose Gardner, Bonnyville, Alta.
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