A white rose of solitude

Our nation's presidential election just ended a short 3 weeks ago. We have a new President Elect Barack Obama. Thanksgiving is also just a few days past and now it's exactly 23 days away from Christmas and I am a few pounds heavier after a non stop few days of turkey feast buffet. It's been a great year and I am very thankful especially waking up on an early frigid black Friday morning to line up behind 500 hundred plus people to buy my favorite items along with a few close friends. Even though there were 500 people ahead, I still got the things I want which is a $99.00 22' inch LCD monitor and now I look at the world in whole new perspective. I also have my little boy, my marriage is in tact, good enough health for a person that only exercises once a week and on top of that, the good Lord have bless me in other more worldly areas as well.

The month of December has always been a month about memories. Good and sad memories. Just two years ago, my wife and I spent the later half of December in the hospital ICU with our then 3 year old boy. It's beyond words how thankful I am that it's a vastly different picture this Christmas compare to the Christmas two years ago. Last Christmas, we spent it along with our family members in Asia with laughter that still echo's daily like the radio station that had put on the 24 hour loop of non-stop Christmas music. Christmas can also be a time of lonesome sadness for many individuals.

This story happens a few years ago. One day during lunch, I was walking around in a Walmart store, when I saw a Cashier hand this little boy some money back. The boy couldn't have been more than 7 years old. I overheard the Cashier said, "I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll."Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: ''Granny,are you sure I don't have enough money?''The old lady replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy this Barbie doll, my dear.''Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes while she went to look a round. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the Barbie doll in his hand. Finally, another men walked toward him and asked him who he wished to give this doll to. "It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her. "He replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry. But he replied to him sadly. "No, Santa Claus can't bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the Barbie doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there. "His eyes were so sad while saying this. "My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.''My heart nearly stopped when I heard this. The little boy looked up at me and said: "I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall. "Then he showed him a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told him "I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won't forget me." "I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister. "Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.
The good hearted Samaritan quickly reached for his wallet and said to the boy. "Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''"OK" he said, "I hope I do have enough." The man added some of his money to with out him seeing and they started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said: "Thank you God for giving me enough money! "Then he looked at him and added, "I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!''"I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.''"My mommy loves white roses."A few minutes later, the old lady returned.

A few days past and I came across the local news paper article regarding an traffic accident involving a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

The value of a man or woman resides in what he or she gives, not in what they are capable of receiving........... When almost everyone else around seems to be having fun with friends and family one can see how things might seem worse than ever for those mourning a lost loved one. What would you give this Christmas?

Here are few suggestions -
1) Give Life
2) I am Hungry
3) Get Child