This Christmas will be different than any we've had before. We received an early "GIFT" that became an unbelievable blessing. A white envelope was slipped into my husbands hands at our son's football game. The friend gave specific instructions not to open it until he got home. He put

it into his pocket and came to sit beside me telling me what had just transpired. I curiously looked at it, "What is it?" "I don't know but we have to at least wait till we get in the car," my husband replied.

After the game we quickly said our goodbyes and rushed to the car. My husband tore it open, looked inside, eyes wide...he held it open in my direction. There was eight crisp one hundred dollar bills. With a note saying, "I hope this will help you". The next evening when we went to the varsity game, we confronted our friends to tell them we couldn't accept it.They said, "We were at church and our pastor said, use your tithing this month to help anyone you feel is in need. We both walked out of the church, looked at each other and said, Anthony & Lisa at the same time. So as you can see, this is a gift from the Lord."

We felt that we had no choice but to accept it. We have been struggling financially, but we wanted to be sure that we used the money for whatever the Lord wanted, so we prayed and waited for an answer. A week went by still no answer. We just decided to be patient.

The following week my dad was scheduled for a biopsy, a spot had appeared on his lung. My mom sat anxiously waiting while my dad was in surgery. Within 45 minutes the doctor appeared, he quietly asked my mom to follow him. They went into a small room where he closed the door. My mom felt a panic overtake her entire body. Then he spoke the dreaded words, "Your husband has 4th stage inoperable lung cancer, his only hope will be chemotherapy with only a 5 percent survival rate with treatment."

My mom wanted to run, but just dropped her head down in disbelief. "How can this be, he has had NO SYMPTOMS! No cough, shortness of breath, pain, NOTHING!"  The unthinkable was happening, first the loss of her son at 21 and now possibly her husband.

We received the answer to our prayer, the money was to be used to go to Utah to spend Christmas with my dad. We have not been together for Christmas in 13 years. The "GIFT" provided the means to make this much needed trip. The gift of friendship, love, and faith has made it possible for my family to all be together to support my dad, on what may be his last Christmas.

ADVICE:

This Christmas look for a way to be a blessing in someone's life. The littlest things can be life changing for someone else. Get your children involved...the lessons you're teaching them will be a true gift. What better way to show your children about caring for others, than first hand.