A Christmas Story

I was at the Almost Free Shop a couple weeks ago when a young woman came to the ladies and quietly shared her husband was home from the military and she was hoping to find a Christmas tree for him.  I had noticed that Christmas trees do not hang around very long at the shop and as much as everyone wanted to help, I had my doubts that there would be one available.

However, the word spread through the shop and our women went to work and in just a few minutes they had found a suitable tree from the back room, a tree stand that fit the tree, and a big bag of decorations and lights.  Another of our workers came bringing a nice wreath to add to the small mountain of decorations.  The young woman was almost in tears out of a humble appreciation.   Our women declared the tree and decorations to be, “almost free,” meaning there was no payment accepted for this transaction.   Now I was almost in tears.

Having just seen God work in an amazing way I started back across the street to my office.  As left the shop and began to cross the alley, a car pulled up and another family from the church began to pull bags from the car and carry them into the shop.  I stopped to help. 

As I carried the last bag I asked, “What you are donating today.”  The reply was, “we are bringing in some decorations we are not going to use this year.”  It was a Christmas tree, some decorations for the tree, and a nice wreath.  I was stunned, as the tears began to fill my eyes again.  Under my breath I said a quick prayer which ended with, “But God, now I think you are just showing off.”