AThanksgivingStory 　　ItwasthedaybeforeThanksgiving--thefirstonemythreechildrenandIwouldbespendingwithouttheirfather,whohadleftseveralmonthsbefore.Nowthetwoolderchildrenwereverysickwiththeflu,andtheeldesthadjustbeenprescribedbedrestforaweek. 　　Itwasacool,graydayoutside,andalightrainwasfalling.IgrewwearierasIscurriedaround,tryingtocareforeachchild:thermometers,juice,diapers.AndIwasfastrunningoutofliquidsforthechildren.ButwhenIcheckedmypurse,allIfoundwasabout$2.50--andthiswassupposedtolastmeuntiltheendofthemonth.That’swhenIheardthephonering. 　　Itwasthesecretaryfromourformerchurch,andshetoldmethattheyhadbeenthinkingaboutusandhadsomethingtogiveusfromthecongregation.ItoldherthatIwasgoingouttopickupsomemorejuiceandsoupforthechildren,andIwoulddropbythechurchonmywaytothemarket. 　　Iarrivedatthechurchjustbeforelunch.Thechurchsecretarymetmeatthedoorandhandedmeaspecialgiftenvelope.“Wethinkofyouandthekidsoften,”shesaid,“andyouareinourheartsandprayers.Weloveyou.”WhenIopenedtheenvelope,Ifoundtwogrocerycertificatesinside.Eachwasworth$20.Iwassotouchedandmoved,Ibrokedownandcried. 　　“Thankyouverymuch,”Isaid,aswehuggedeachother.“Pleasegiveourloveandthankstothechurch.”ThenIdrovetoastorenearourhomeandpurchasedsomemuch-neededitemsforthechildren. 　　Atthecheck-outcounterIhadalittleover$14.00worthofgroceries,andIhandedthecashieroneofthegiftcertificates.Shetookit,thenturnedherbackforwhatseemedlikeaverylongtime.Ithoughtsomethingmightbewrong.FinallyIsaid,“Thisgiftcertificateisarealblessing.Ourformerchurchgaveittomyfamily,knowingI’masingleparenttryingtomakeendsmeet.“ 　　Thecashierthenturnedaround,withtearsinherlovingeyes,andreplied,“Honey,that’swonderful!Doyouhaveaturkey?” 　　“No.It’sokaybecausemychildrenaresickanyway.” 　　Shethenasked,“DoyouhaveanythingelseforThanksgivingdinner?” 　　AgainIreplied,“No.” 　　Afterhandingmethechangefromthecertificate,shelookedatmyfaceandsaid,“Honey,Ican’ttellyouexactlywhyrightnow,butIwantyoutogobackintothestoreandbuyaturkey,cranberrysauce,pumpkinpieoranythingelseyouneedforaThanksgivingdinner.” 　　Iwasshocked,andhumbledtotears.“Areyousure?”Iasked. 　　“Yes!Getwhateveryouwant.AndgetsomeGatoradeforthekids.” 　　IfeltawkwardasIwentbacktodosomemoreshopping,butIselectedafreshturkey,afewyamsandpotatoes 　　,andsomejuicesforthechildren.ThenIwheeledtheshoppingcartuptothesamecashierasbefore.AsIplacedmygroceriesonthecounter,shelookedatmeoncemorewithgianttearsinherkindeyesandbegantospeak. 　　“NowIcantellyou.ThismorningIprayedthatIcouldhelpsomeonetoday,andyouwalkedthroughmyline.”Shereachedunderthecounterforherpurseandtookouta$20bill.Shepaidformygroceriesandthenhandedmethechange.OncemoreIwasmovedtotears. 　　Thesweetcashierthensaid,“IamaChristian.Hereismyphonenumberifyoueverneedanything.”Shethentookmyheadinherhands,kissedmycheekandsaid,“Godblessyou,honey.” 　　AsIwalkedtomycar,Iwasoverwhelmedbythisstranger’sloveandbytherealizationthatGodlovesmyfami