It was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain was falling. I grew wearier as I scurried around, trying to care for each child: thermometers, juice, diapers. And I was fast running out of liquids for the children. But when I checked my purse, all I found was about $2.50 -- and this was supposed to last me until the end of the month. That’s when I heard the phone ring.

　　It was the secretary from our former church, and she told me that they had been thinking about us and had something to give us from the congregation. I told her that I was going out to pick up some more juice and soup for the children, and I would drop by the church on my way to the market.

　　I arrived at the church just before lunch. The church secretary met me at the door and handed me a special gift envelope. “We think of you and the kids often,” she said, “and you are in our hearts and prayers. We love you.” When I opened the envelope, I found two grocery certificates inside. Each was worth $20. I was so touched and moved, I broke down and cried.

　　“Thank you very much,” I said, as we hugged each other. “Please give our love and thanks to the church.” Then I drove to a store near our home and purchased some much-needed items for the children.

　　At the check-out counter I had a little over $14.00 worth of groceries, and I handed the cashier one of the gift certificates. She took it, then turned her back for what seemed like a very long time. I thought something might be wrong. Finally I said, “This gift certificate is a real blessing. Our former church gave it to my family, knowing I’m a single parent trying to make ends meet.“

　　The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, “Honey, that’s wonderful! Do you have a turkey?”

　　“No. It’s okay because my children are sick anyway.”

　　She then asked, “Do you have anything else for Thanksgiving dinner?”

　　Again I replied, “No.”

　　After handing me the change from the certificate, she looked at my face and said, “Honey, I can’t tell you exactly why right now, but I want you to go back into the store and buy a turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or anything else you need for a Thanksgiving dinner.”

　　I was shocked, and humbled to tears. “Are you sure?” I asked.

　　“Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some Gatorade for the kids.”

　　I felt awkward as I went back to do some more shopping, but I selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and potatoes, and some juices for the children. Then I wheeled the shopping cart up to the same cashier as before. As I placed my groceries on the counter, she looked at me once more with giant tears in her kind eyes and began to speak.

　　“Now I can tell you. This morning I prayed that I could help someone today, and you walked through my line.” She reached under the counter for her purse and took out a $20 bill. She paid for my groceries and then handed me the change. Once more I was moved to tears.

　　The sweet cashier then said, “I am a Christian. Here is my phone number if you ever need anything.” She then took my head in her hands, kissed my cheek and said, “God bless you, honey.”

　　As I walked to my car, I was overwhelmed by this stranger’s love and by the realization that God loves my family too, and shows us his love through this stranger’s and my church’s kind deeds.

　　The children were supposed to have spent Thanksgiving with their father that year, but because of the flu they were home with me, for a very special Thanksgiving Day. They were feeling better, and we all ate the goodness of the Lord’s bounty -- and our community’s love. Our hearts were truly filled with thanks.

　　那天是感恩節前一天------也是第一次我和我的三個孩子沒有在他們的父親的陪伴下度過，他早在幾個月前就走了。兩個年長的孩子此時高燒發得很是厲害，而且最年長那個孩子已經臥床休養一個禮拜了。

　　外面天氣寒冷，天色灰暗而且還下著小雨。為了照顧到每一個孩子：體溫計、果汁、尿布，我忙得團團轉，感覺越來越累。給孩子們留著的飲料已經所剩無幾。但當我去查看我的錢包的時候，我只找到了2.5美元------而且這點錢只夠我維持到月底。正是在這個時候我聽到電話鈴響了。

　　這是我們的前教區秘書打來的，她說他們都很想念我們而且教會有禮物要贈送給我們。我告訴她我正要打算去給孩子們買些果汁和湯，而且我會在去商店的路上順道去下教堂。

　　我剛好在午餐前趕到教堂。教堂秘書和我在門前相遇并遞給我一封特殊的信。“我們經常想到你和你的孩子，”她說，“你在我們的心里和祝福中。”當我打開信封，我發現里面有兩張雜貨店禮品券。每張都要值20美元。我被深深地打動情不自禁地哭了出來。

　　“真是太感謝你了，”在我們擁抱的當兒我說到。“請把我們的愛和感謝轉達給教堂。”然后我駛向在我家附近的商店，給孩子們買了些最需要的東西。

　　我買了將近14美元的食品，我把其中一張禮券遞給收銀員。她接過去以后轉身看了很長一段時間。我想可能事情有點不太對勁。最后我說，“這張禮券是一份真誠的祝福。我們的前教會知道我是一個入不敷出的單親家長就把這份禮券送給了我們全家。”

　　收銀員于是轉過身，眼淚濕潤了她充滿愛意的眼睛，回答道，“親愛的，那太好了!你有火雞嗎?”

　　“沒有。沒關系，反正我的孩子都生著病。”

　　然后她問道，“你還為感恩節晚餐準備了什么嗎?”

　　我又一次回答道，“沒有。”

　　在她把零錢找給我之后，她看著我說，“親愛的，我現在不能夠告訴你具體原因是什么，但我希望你走回商店去買一只火雞，酸果蔓沙司，南瓜派或者任何一樣感恩節晚餐需要的東西。”

　　我當時很震驚，謙卑地留下了眼淚并問道。“你確定嗎?”

　　“沒錯!去拿任何一樣你需要的東西。并且給孩子們帶些佳得樂飲料。”

　　當我回去購買更多的東西的時候我感到有些尷尬，但是我選中了一只新鮮的火雞，一些甘薯和土豆，還有給孩子們的果汁。然后我推著購物車走向先前的那一個收銀柜。我把商品放在柜臺上，她又一次看著我，豆大的淚珠掛在她善意的眼睛中，接著她開始說話。

　　“現在，我可以告訴你。這個早晨我祈禱著我能在今天能夠幫助到某人，而你恰好來到了我這里。”她從柜臺下取出她的錢包并拿出20美元的賬單。她為我付了錢還把零錢遞給我。我又一次感動得哭了。

　　善良的收銀員接著說道，“我是一個基督徒。這是我的電話號碼，如果你需要幫助的話聯系我。”然后她雙手抱著我的頭親吻我的臉頰，說，“愿上帝保佑你，親愛的。”

　　當我走向我的車子，我被這個陌生人的愛所動容同時我意識到上帝也愛著我們全家，并且他的愛通過這個陌生人和教堂的善舉展示給我們。

　　那年孩子們本應該和他們的父親共度感恩節，但因為流感他們和我一起呆在家里，這是一個非常特別的感恩節。他們的病情漸漸好轉，而且我們沐浴在主的善意中------還有社會的愛。我們心中充滿感激之情。