Guilford, Connecticut—

I was handed a gift wrapped jar at the neighborhood food bank the Tuesday before Christmas. The person who handed the jar to me told me not to leave the jar just sitting in the car if I was out running errands as it held a lot of money, upon which case I laughed. Who would hand an undeserving someone like me a gift of cash? And for no reason? Anyway I did as I was told and took special care of the gift and kept it safe, almost forgotten in the hustle of getting the kids Christmas done. Christmas was hard this year. I called it the Christmas that wasn’t because we really weren’t going to have a tree or anything. I had heart surgery and haven’t felt well since and my daughter was going to college and helping to support the income of the home… getting back to the jar well after the gifts were opened there sat the jar the morning after Christmas under the tree still wrapped. I had forgotten about it! What a surprise when my daughter and I opened it! THAT was one Christmas miracle! God thank you for taking care of us as you always do. And also baring witness to my daughter that you have your hand in our lives! It’s been a difficult year I’ve been sick a lot and depression has crept in but what a witness that God and others are still there!

—Kim Romano