Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.
~Maya Angelou
My husband was finishing up college and we were using every available means to earn an income and to spend frugally. There was no money left over to buy Christmas gifts for our two young daughters.
Most of our friends were in the same situation. We would all have to make the best of it.
The college wives had a group that met every month for activities and friendship. At the November meeting, the leader made an announcement: “Our church ladies are sponsoring a gently used toy giveaway. Each college wife will be able to come to our event and ‘shop’ for Christmas toys.”
Of course, we buzzed with excitement. We couldn’t wait for our “shopping” trip. It was the answer to our prayers.
We arrived at the appointed house on the appointed night. I don’t know what we expected, but we entered a toy wonderland. Every inch of the living and dining rooms, den, garage, and even part of the kitchen were covered in toys so gently used they could pass for new.
For the first round, everyone could choose a toy for each child. What a great time we had choosing the perfect gifts. Some of the women chose a toy per child and left, not realizing there would be enough left over for another round. I stayed because one of our church ladies pulled me aside and said, “I have something special for you if you can stay until last.” Of course I could stay.
We all did a second round of shopping and there were still toys left over. More of the women left. We all had selected two toys per child, so it seemed like enough.
The ladies from the church invited us to do a third round of shopping. Meanwhile, I lingered, waiting for the “special something” that I had been offered.
Finally, only a few wives remained. The lady returned and asked me to follow her into another room. I didn’t know what to expect. She presented me with a beautiful, white doll cradle in pristine condition.
“The person who donated this wanted it to go to a special home. I believe it’s perfect for your little girls.”
I was overwhelmed. This was an expensive toy, far nicer than the already great toys I had been allowed to choose that night. But that wasn’t all. Another lady gave me a set of vintage doll bunk beds, complete with mattresses, pillows, sheets, and handmade quilts.
I didn’t know what to say. I felt so blessed and so humbled. They wanted my daughters to have these because they were “such good little girls” and because I “worked hard and didn’t complain.” I surely didn’t feel I deserved them but everyone else was gone. So I thanked them over and over again as they helped me load things into the car. On my way out, they plied me with more leftover toys.
We had one of our best Christmases ever. Our little girls were thrilled. I don’t know why God decided to bless me that way, that night, but bless He did, through those wonderful ladies. The toys were eventually outgrown and passed down to other children who would enjoy them as much. My granddaughter now has the bunk beds in her playroom. I will never forget the love and caring of those ladies and the most wonderful “shopping trip” of my life.
~Sandra Holmes McGarrity
