Readers share favorite Christmas memories

Boy’s example of service is a Christmas Store ‘miracle’

By Donna Novotney
Special to The Criterion

It was a busy day at the Terre Haute Deanery Christmas Store. The weather had turned so cold, and it had snowed during the night. We were surprised by the number of people in the waiting room.

My next family consisted of a mother and her two children. An older lady was with her and asked if she could talk to me. She explained that this young woman was her niece. Her husband had been sick, and they had moved here from another city to live with her.

She had heard about the Christmas Store at her church. She also explained that the 11-year-old boy really needed a coat. I had noticed that his lightweight jacket wasn’t warm enough for this frigid weather.

I asked the mother to do her shopping, and the first items she saw were boys’ coats. I went out and told him that we wanted him to try on a coat. He politely informed me that he really didn’t need a coat, he wasn’t poor and he thought that there were poor kids that were really in need of coats.

The mother went ahead with her shopping, still keeping her eye on a particular National Football League logo coat that she knew was his favorite football team.

Just as she was getting ready to leave, the man at the door who helps with the clients’ bags asked the boy if he would help carry some bags to a lady’s car.

The boy jumped up and, as he passed by the coat rack, I said, “Wait a minute. Try this coat on.”

When he saw the coat, he said, “OK.”

It was a perfect fit. He shoved his hands into the pockets and came up with a matching NFL stocking cap and gloves. This was the first smile that I had seen from him.

The boy then said, “I guess I’ll have to take it, but can I work for it?”

Mr. Sullivan told him, “You sure can. Ask your mom, and I will see that you get home.”

The boy worked all afternoon carrying bags to cars, helping people up the front steps and cleaning the snow off the walks. He told everyone “Merry Christmas” as they left the store.

That evening at closing time, my husband was waiting for me in the car. He asked, “Who is that kid with that NFL jacket that’s been carrying the bags?”

“Well,” I said, “I really don’t know, but I do know that he is a special boy, and he is going to grow up to be a fine man. In fact, I bet he grows up and helps us at the Christmas Store.”
And he did!

(Donna Novotney is a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Seelyville. She volunteers at the Terre Haute Catholic Charities Christmas Store.) †