by Gloria Pope
Kathy worked her way through the holiday crowds.
She considered the meager amount in her purse that was to cover Christmas gifts
for her seven children and one or two close relatives. The year had not been
good for her husband, who like others at the company where he worked had been
required to take a pay cut to avoid losing his job.
With the shopping almost done, Kathy found a
beautiful blouse, just the color, size, and style that she knew her mother
would love. Best of all, it was on sale, and she could buy it and still stay
within her budget. She purchased it and felt a glow of excitement, knowing the
gift was exactly right.
Having finished her shopping, she gathered the
twins and all the packages and headed for the car. Then she discovered that one of the packages
was missing~the gift for her mother! She retraced her steps carefully, but her
unsuccessful inquiries brought a bitter realization of the truth: no gift for
her mother, and no money left to replace it.
Standing amid the holiday crowds, the twins
clinging to her package-laden arms, Kathy felt only the burden of the holidays
and none of the joy. Her tears flowed freely.
A woman approached and touched Kathy's arm,
saying, “Dear, I noticed you talking with one of the clerks about your lost
parcel. Please take this, and buy another blouse for your mother. You see, this
Christmas I have no mother to buy a gift for. Please, it would mean so much to
me.” The woman pressed a twenty-dollar bill into Kathy's hand and slipped away
before Kathy could speak.
Lost in thought Kathy walked slowly toward the
rack of women's blouses. The crowds of men, women, and children still bumped
and jostled her, but she was no loner bothered by them. She knew one of them
might be another “angel in disguise.”
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