[AGDee]

Given the events in CT, I think this thread needs a bump, to remind people of the good in the world. This story never made the news, but it made a huge difference in my life, during one of the lowest points of my life.

Eleven years ago, I was a newly divorced mom, very sick with Crohn's Disease (undiagnosed at the time of the story). My kids were 5 and 7 and I was working full time. For six months, I had subsisted on popsicles, jello and Gatorade because anything else gave me excruciating pain. I had lost 65 pounds in that time period. I was weak, exhausted, in pain most of the time and trying to make a living and raise my children. I wasn't even sure I was going to live because they hadn't figured out what was wrong with me. I was also adjusting to living on one income instead of two so things were very tight financially.

I was at the grocery store with both kids, after picking them up from latch key, to pick up a few things for dinner that night. My son saw the Hallmark Kissy Bears display which said "Free with the purchase of three cards." My son said, "Can we get these? They are free!" At age 5, he couldn't read all the words, but he knew he saw "FREE". I sadly explained that we had to buy three cards to get one free and we didn't need three cards, nor did we have the money for three cards. And then we'd only get one of the bears, not both. There was a woman near us who heard the conversation. My son was sad, but he accepted what I said.

We checked out, went to the car and both kids got in the car while I loaded groceries into the back of the car. The woman who had overheard the earlier conversation came up to me and thrust a bag into my hand and said "Merry Christmas". She had gotten the Kissy Bears and gave them to us. I instantly teared up and said Thank You. I got in the car, crying, and my daughter said "what's wrong?" and I said "Nothing is wrong. We have a Christmas Angel" and I showed the kids the bears, telling them the woman gave them to us. My daughter said "Why are you crying momma? That was a nice thing to do." And I said "These are tears of joy, sweetie."

This woman couldn't know what I'd been through that year.. the divorce, buying a house, my illness. She just knew she saw a tired mom who couldn't afford those bears for her kids. She had no idea that her random act of kindness was so much more than just giving someone a couple bears she got for free.

Each year, as we put the Kissy Bears on the fireplace hearth, I tear up again, thinking about how that woman made such a difference in THREE lives. We remember the story each year and I believe her small action helped to make my children the thoughtful young adults they are today. I wish I could thank her again and again, but the only way I can do this is by doing similar random acts of kindness.