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Sitting at home one day, I got a unexpected call from my friend Lucille who had moved away.  She called to tell me that a week before Christmas, she was in an accident. While coming out of the hairdresser one day, a car hit her out of the blue and shattered her ankles.

Lucille was calling me from a convalescent home, recuperating from her injuries. I was shocked to hear that her son and sister in law had told her she couldn’t go back to live with them when she was well again. When I hung up the phone, I prayed for her and ask God that she would still have a good Christmas regardless of her circumstances.

After praying, an idea came to me. I took an empty box and filled it with Christmas decorations and a get well card and sent it express so Lucille could receive it in time for Christmas. She received it and called me long distance to let me know how grateful and happy she was for the thoughtful words of encouragement I had written in the card.

She said the staff put all the decorations in her room so she wouldn’t feel alone and discouraged. I had put a little manger in with the decorations, and I asked God to give her the strength to get through this.
I thank God for giving me compassion to react to an unexpected situation. Bringing Christmas to her was my present from God.  Lucille sends me a Christmas card every year and she told me God has seen her though this ordeal.