Foreword:
Christmasisatimeforlove,joy,andgiving.ItisatimetocometogetherwithlovedonesandcelebratethebirthofJesus.Formanypeople,itisthemostwonderfultimeoftheyear.Forme,itwasatimethatIwillneverforget.
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ItallbeganonacoldandsnowyDecemberevening.IhadjustfinishedmyshiftatthelocaldinerandwaswalkinghomewhenIheardafaintcrycomingfromanalleyway.Curiositygotthebetterofme,andIwenttoinvestigate.
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There,huddledinthecorner,wasayounggirlnoolderthansixorsevenyearsold.Shewasshiveringwithcoldandtearswerestreamingdownherface.Myheartwentouttoher,andIknewIhadtohelpher.
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Iaskedherwhathadhappened,butshewastooscaredtospeak.Allshecouldmanagewasasniffleandawhimper.Itriedtocalmherdown,butitwasnouse.Idecidedtotakeherbacktomyapartmentandgivehersomewarmclothesandahotmeal.
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Aswewalkedbacktomyapartment,Inoticedthatshewascarryingasmallteddybear.Itwastheonlypossessionshehad,anditseemedtobringheralittlecomfort.Ifeltapangofsadnessknowingthatshehadnothingelse.
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Whenwearrivedatmyapartment,Igaveherawarmbathanddressedherinsomecleanclothes.Sheseemedtorelaxalittleandevenmanagedasmallsmile.Icookedhersomesoupandtoastedsomebread,andwesatdowntoeattogether.
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Asweate,Iaskedheragainwhathadhappened.Thistime,shewasabletotellmethatshehadrunawayfromhomebecauseherparentshadbeenfighting.Shedidn'tknowwheretogoorwhattodo,soshehadhiddeninthealleyway.
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Myheartbrokeforher.Nochildshouldhavetogothroughsomethinglikethat.IknewIhadtodosomethingtohelpher.
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ThenextdaywasChristmasEve,andIdecidedtotakehertoalocalcharityorganizationthathelpschildreninneed.Theywereabletoprovideherwithawarmbed,food,andshelter.Theyalsopromisedtotryandfindherparentsandreunitethem.
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Ilefttheorganizationfeelingalittlebitbetteraboutthesituation.Theyounggirlwassafeandwarm,andIknewshewasingoodhands.However,Icouldn'tshakethefeelingthattherewassomethingmoreIcoulddo.
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Thatnight,Icouldn'tsleep.Theimageoftheyounggirl'stear-stainedfacekeptreplayinginmymind.Suddenly,anideacametome.IwouldbuyheraChristmaspresent.
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Thenextmorning,Iwenttothelocaltoystoreandboughtheranewteddybear.Itwassoftandcuddlyandcamewithalittlenotethatread"MerryChristmas".Ihopeditwouldbringhersomecomfortandjoy.
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WhenIarrivedbackatthecharityorganization,Iwassurprisedtoseeafamiliarface.Itwasmychildhoodfriend,Rachel.Shewastherewithherhusbandandtwoyoungchildren,volunteeringtheirtimetohelpout.
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RachelandIcaughtuponoldtimeswhilethechildrenplayedwiththetoysandgamesthatwereprovidedforthem.Itwasheartwarmingtoseethemallsohappyandcarefree.
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Aswewereleaving,RachelstoppedmeandaskedabouttheyounggirlIhadbroughtinthenightbefore.Itoldherthestory,andshewastouchedbyit.Shegavemeahugandthankedmeforbeingsuchakindperson.
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AsIwalkedaway,Icouldn'thelpbutfeelthatIhaddonesomethinggood.Helpingthatyounggirlhadledmetoreconnectwithanoldfriendandhadbroughtjoytothechildrenatthecharityorganization.
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Thatnight,asIsataloneinmyapartment,IrealizedthatChristmaswasn'tjustaboutreceivinggiftsoreatingdeliciousfood.Itwasaboutgivingloveandhopetothosewhoneededitthemost.
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ThenextdaywasChristmasDay,andIdecidedtogobacktothecharityorganizationandvolunteermytime.Ihelpedservefood,playgameswiththechildren,andevendressedupasSantaClaustohandoutpresents.
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Itwasanincrediblyrewardingexperience.Seeingthesmilesonthechildren'sfacesmademerealizethateventhesmallestactsofkindnesscanmakeabigdifferenceinsomeone'slife.
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Asthedaycametoanend,Isaidmygoodbyestoeveryoneandleftfeelingfulfilledandhappy.Theyounggirlhadbeenreunitedwithherparents,andthechildrenatthecharityorganizationhadbeengivenadayofjoyandhappiness.
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AsIwalkedbacktomyapartment,Icouldn'thelpbutfeelgratefulforallthatIhad.Ihadaroofovermyhead,foodonthetable,andfriendsandfamilywholovedme.ImadeapromisetomyselfthatIwouldcontinuetospreadloveandkindnesswhereverIwent.
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Intheend,thatChristmaswillalwaysberememberedasatimeofloveandgiving.Ittaughtmethatnomatterhowsmall,everyactofkindnesscanmakeadifferenceinsomeone'slife.
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SothisChristmas,Iurgeyoutospreadloveandkindnesstothosearoundyou.Whetherit'sasmallgift,akindword,orahelpinghand,rememberthatthegreatestgiftofallisthegiftoflove.MerryChristmas!
