It was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain was falling. I grew wearier as I scurried around, trying to care for each child: thermometers, juice, diapers. And I was fast running out of liquids for the children. But when I checked my purse, all I found was about $2.50 -- and this was supposed to last me until the end of the month. That’s when I heard the phone ring.
It was the secretary from our former church, and she told me that they had been thinking about us and had something to give us from the congregation. I told her that I was going out to pick up some more juice and soup for the children, and I would drop by the church on my way to the market.
I arrived at the church just before lunch. The church secretary met me at the door and handed me a special gift envelope. “We think of you and the kids often,” she said, “and you are in our hearts and prayers. We love you.” When I opened the envelope, I found two grocery certificates inside. Each was worth $20. I was so touched and moved, I broke down and cried.
“Thank you very much,” I said, as we hugged each other. “Please give our love and thanks to the church.” Then I drove to a store near our home and purchased some much-needed items for the children.
At the check-out counter I had a little over $14.00 worth of groceries, and I handed the cashier one of the gift certificates. She took it, then turned her back for what seemed like a very long time. I thought something might be wrong. Finally I said, “This gift certificate is a real blessing. Our former church gave it to my family, knowing I’m a single parent trying to make ends meet.“
The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, “Honey, that’s wonderful! Do you have a turkey?”
“No. It’s okay because my children are sick anyway.”
She then asked, “Do you have anything else for Thanksgiving dinner?”
Again I replied, “No.”
After handing me the change from the certificate, she looked at my face and said, “Honey, I can’t tell you exactly why right now, but I want you to go back into the store and buy a turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or anything else you need for a Thanksgiving dinner.”
I was shocked, and humbled to tears. “Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some Gatorade for the kids.”
I felt awkward as I went back to do some more shopping, but I selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and potatoes, and some juices for the children. Then I wheeled the shopping cart up to the same cashier as before. As I placed my groceries on the counter, she looked at me once more with giant tears in her kind eyes and began to speak.
“Now I can tell you. This morning I prayed that I could help someone today, and you walked through my line.” She reached under the counter for her purse and took out a $20 bill. She paid for my groceries and then handed me the change. Once more I was moved to tears.
The sweet cashier then said, “I am a Christian. Here is my phone number if you ever need anything.” She then took my head in her hands, kissed my cheek and said, “God bless you, honey.”
As I walked to my car, I was overwhelmed by this stranger’s love and by the realization that God loves my family too, and shows us his love through this stranger’s and my church’s kind deeds.
The children were supposed to have spent Thanksgiving with their father that year, but because of the flu they were home with me, for a very special Thanksgiving Day. They were feeling better, and we all ate the goodness of the Lord’s bounty -- and our community’s love. Our hearts were truly filled with thanks.
那天是感恩节前一天------也是第一次我和我的三个孩子没有在他们的父亲的陪伴下度过，他早在几个月前就走了。两个年长的孩子此时高烧发得很是厉害，而且最年长那个孩子已经卧床休养一个礼拜了。
外面天气寒冷，天色灰暗而且还下着小雨。为了照顾到每一个孩子：体温计、果汁、尿布，我忙得团团转，感觉越来越累。给孩子们留着的饮料已经所剩无几。但当我去查看我的钱包的时候，我只找到了2.5美元------而且这点钱只够我维持到月底。正是在这个时候我听到电话铃响了。
这是我们的前教区秘书打来的，她说他们都很想念我们而且教会有礼物要赠送给我们。我告诉她我正要打算去给孩子们买些果汁和汤，而且我会在去商店的路上顺道去下教堂。
我刚好在午餐前赶到教堂。教堂秘书和我在门前相遇并递给我一封特殊的信。“我们经常想到你和你的孩子，”她说，“你在我们的心里和祝福中。”当我打开信封，我发现里面有两张杂货店礼品券。每张都要值20美元。我被深深地打动情不自禁地哭了出来。
“真是太感谢你了，”在我们拥抱的当儿我说到。“请把我们的爱和感谢转达给教堂。”然后我驶向在我家附近的商店，给孩子们买了些最需要的东西。
我买了将近14美元的食品，我把其中一张礼券递给收银员。她接过去以后转身看了很长一段时间。我想可能事情有点不太对劲。最后我说，“这张礼券是一份真诚的祝福。我们的前教会知道我是一个入不敷出的单亲家长就把这份礼券送给了我们全家。”
收银员于是转过身，眼泪湿润了她充满爱意的眼睛，回答道，“亲爱的，那太好了!你有火鸡吗?”
“没有。没关系，反正我的孩子都生着病。”
然后她问道，“你还为感恩节晚餐准备了什么吗?”
我又一次回答道，“没有。”
在她把零钱找给我之后，她看着我说，“亲爱的，我现在不能够告诉你具体原因是什么，但我希望你走回商店去买一只火鸡，酸果蔓沙司，南瓜派或者任何一样感恩节晚餐需要的东西。”
我当时很震惊，谦卑地留下了眼泪并问道。“你确定吗?”
“没错!去拿任何一样你需要的东西。并且给孩子们带些佳得乐饮料。”
当我回去购买更多的东西的时候我感到有些尴尬，但是我选中了一只新鲜的火鸡，一些甘薯和土豆，还有给孩子们的果汁。然后我推着购物车走向先前的那一个收银柜。我把商品放在柜台上，她又一次看着我，豆大的泪珠挂在她善意的眼睛中，接着她开始说话。
“现在，我可以告诉你。这个早晨我祈祷着我能在今天能够帮助到某人，而你恰好来到了我这里。”她从柜台下取出她的钱包并拿出20美元的账单。她为我付了钱还把零钱递给我。我又一次感动得哭了。
善良的收银员接着说道，“我是一个基督徒。这是我的电话号码，如果你需要帮助的话联系我。”然后她双手抱着我的头亲吻我的脸颊，说，“愿上帝保佑你，亲爱的。”
当我走向我的车子，我被这个陌生人的爱所动容同时我意识到上帝也爱着我们全家，并且他的爱通过这个陌生人和教堂的善举展示给我们。
那年孩子们本应该和他们的父亲共度感恩节，但因为流感他们和我一起呆在家里，这是一个非常特别的感恩节。他们的病情渐渐好转，而且我们沐浴在主的善意中------还有社会的爱。我们心中充满感激之情。
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