(November 30, 2019)

I unpacked my Christmas decorations last night and out popped Mrs. Clause. Her cap and shoes are missing, her glasses broke a few years ago. But, throwing her away is NOT an option. Her story is way too special to me! I wrote the story about this special doll some years back …

An Unexpected Gift

Anyone who has lived any length of time on planet earth can think back to at least one period in their life that they would not want to repeat. It could have been a bad choice they made that yielded major consequences, or perhaps the situation was something totally beyond their control, but nevertheless, it deeply affected them.

One such difficult time-period in my life happened many years ago. The circumstances impacted my finances in a major way. I had never been in such a financial bind and didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Here it was, Christmastime of 1991 and I was at rock bottom. I wondered where was God in the midst of what I was going through.

Then one night, my young daughter Amy and I were at Walmart picking up a few essentials, when she spotted a Christmas doll she just had to have. She asked if I would buy her the doll. I responded with a short but sweet, “No.” Then, the begging began. She expressed to me how she REALLY, REALLY wanted this doll. Our budget had been so tight and I was so tired of having to say no to her requests, but “No” it had to be, again – this was a luxury and we could barely afford necessities. When she asked a second time, I said firmly, “You know that we are having money problems right now – please stop asking me.” I really thought I had spoken quietly enough so she was the only one who heard me. But, what happened next proved otherwise:

Seemingly from out of nowhere popped Rosemary. Rosemary is a lady (at the time, probably in her late forties) with long salt & pepper hair. She was a clerk there at Walmart. To my amazement, she reached into the pocket of her red smock and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill! With a warm smile, she handed it to Amy and indicated that it was for her to buy the doll. Totally stunned, and embarrassed, and at the same time touched by this kind gesture from a total stranger, I politely but firmly told her that it was very nice of her but that we could not accept it. I apologized and let her know that I really didn’t realize that I had spoken loudly enough for anyone to hear me. Then, in a gentle way, with all sincerity, Rosemary proceeded to explain that God was leading her to do this. I hesitated, but after I reflected on the deeper meaning of the situation at hand I decided to accept the gift. And, I also accepted the message behind the gift. This was more than a Christmas doll. It was the reminder I needed that God hadn’t forgotten us – that He cared and would be with us through this difficult situation. Of course, Amy was thrilled, and I knew that I had just experienced something I would never forget.

A couple of years later the storm had passed. Life had calmed down. I had changed jobs and landed a few promotions and finances were back to normal. It was Christmastime once again, and Amy and I were unpacking our decorations. Out came the Christmas doll. As I held the doll, I thought back to that special night at Walmart. I expressed gratitude to God for how vastly different this Christmas was than the one just a few years before. Then my thoughts turned to Rosemary. I decided it was time to reciprocate and I announced to Amy, “We have some unfinished business.”

A few days later I made a trip to Walmart. Amy and I had become friends with “Miss Rosemary.” Whenever we went to the store we’d stop and chat with her. But even after a few years of knowing her I realized I still didn’t know her last name. I wanted our gift to her to be a surprise, so I went to the Customer Service Department and informed them that I wanted to purchase a gift certificate for one of their employees but I didn’t know her last name. The clerk excused herself for a moment and then returned with the store manager. He asked me to step over to the side. He looked puzzled and asked if I would be willing to share with him why I wanted to do this. Of course I enjoyed telling him about what Rosemary had done for us and how it impacted our lives. He was touched. I know this not because he told me, but because I saw tears well up in his eyes when I shared our story. He proceeded to give me her last name, completed the transaction and assured me he would give the gift certificate to her.

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I learned several things through this experience:

Rosemary demonstrated the courage of obedience

There would be no story to tell if Rosemary had not responded in obedience to God’s prompting.

Rosemary is a wise investor

Jesus instructs – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Just consider how many people have been touched by Rosemary’s one twenty-dollar bill!

And, I learned that gifts that are offered to us are not ours until we accept them

When we are offered a gift, we can choose whether or not to accept it. When Rosemary offered her gift, I struggled with the decision. The gift didn’t become mine until I agreed to receive it. On that very first Christmas we were given a gift. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He gave us the gift of his Son – through whom He offers the gifts of forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. He wants to be our Savior, the Lord of our lives. We need only to accept His generous gift.

Vicki Lynn Gordy, Author of  A Heart for God: Loving God With Your Whole Heart