The Envelope

The Envelope

by Lisa Swindler
South Carolina, USA

In 1998, a week before Thanksgiving, I took our 10-month-old baby daughter to the doctor for a check-up. The nurse commented how well she looked. Fifteen minutes later we were headed to the hospital emergency room. Ruth’s oxygen level was below 90 and she was having difficulty breathing. It was her fourth hospitalization that year.

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It Was His Idea

It Was His Idea

Diane Catanzaro
Texas, USA

My husband has, shall we say, a less than supportive father. Out on his own at 16, he lived first with his brother, then with his sister before entering the Navy at 17. Robert wanted to be a medic because of his interest in medicine. His father said “No! Do something that will guarantee a job later: fix airplanes”.

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Pink Ornaments

Pink Ornaments

by Byron Thorson
Louisiana, USA

My mother was the heart and soul of our small family around Christmas time. Everything centered around her. You would have had to know her to fully understand why. Small of physical stature, big of heart and strong willed. That was my mom.

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Christmas Redeemed

Christmas Redeemed

by Terry Hoffman
Hoquiam, WA

Christmas has never held very many good memories for me.

As a child, my family life was a nightmare. My mother was full of hate for the world and made life miserable for all of us. My father was the kindest person, but could not stand up to my mother.

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The Land of Smiles

Land of Smiles

by Joanne Smarney
Michigan, USA

My husband and I were newly retired and loving it. At a picnic we renewed friendships with folks we hadn’t seen in years. We extolled the virtues of retirement and told everyone how much we enjoyed traveling. One friend suggested we accompany him to Thailand. He made the trip twice yearly for his import business. We agreed to go.

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Lifted by Kindness

Lifted by Kindness

Liz Brannan
Black Forest, CO

My story took place in Kansas on Interstate 70. It was September 4th, 2014, and I was riding a Harley Electra-Glide Classic. I was by myself and in a hurry, trying to make it to Hays to take a conference call.

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A Message From Your Neighbor

A Message from your Neighbor

by Anonymous
USA

I cannot walk very far without tiring out or just plain collapsing, because I have multiple sclerosis along with post polio syndrome. I drive an old junker car, and one day I just had to go to the supermarket; they had a sale on I couldn’t pass up. I took my car, and when I came out of the supermarket, the car would not start. I was in a tizzy.

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I Want to Help

I Want to Help

by Bill Warren
Texas, USA

In 2002, my wife and I traveled with another couple on vacation to Australia, New Zealand and then to Tokyo, Japan. Although we met many wonderful travelers and locals, the following two acts of kindness in Japan truly stand out in our minds.

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An Old Wooden Cane

An Old Wooden Cane

by Byron Thorson
Hammond, Louisiana, USA

I was 23 and had just started a new job in a large, Midwestern city a little before Thanksgiving. At the time, I am sorry to say, I had a serious attitude problem toward many things, including old people and people who rode the bus. However, since I didn’t have a car I had to take the crowded bus myself. One day after work a little old lady boarded carrying a huge shopping bag. Nobody offered her a seat except me.

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Moving On

Moving On

by Amanda E. Savieri
Victoria, Australia

My childhood was a rough one. My mother had me when she was very young. She blamed me for my own existence every day of my life. She screamed at me even when I was very small, saying I had ruined her life and her marriage. She called me names and told me I would never amount to anything. I got used to it and believed the things she told me, not knowing the effect it would have on me later on.

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