...an anonymous giver

On Sunday afternoon we attended a Christmas Open House at the home of a friend. Afterward, we visited a nearby mall. The place was teeming with people...beyond crowded. In addition to holiday shoppers, there were people looking at the new cars that were parked inside the mall...for sale by various dealers. We were having a peek at a nice little BMW when a tall, middle-aged, well dressed gentleman approached me. He asked me if Annie was my daughter and I answered yes. I thought he was a car salesman. He said, "Have Santa buy her something she would like." I thought he was handing me his card and I extended my hand, but stopped when I saw he had a folded bill in his hand. I said no I could not take his money. He said please a couple of times and again I refused. Then he said, "If you won't take it for her, take it for me." I looked into his eyes and they were glistening with the beginnings of tears. I took the bill and thanked him for his kindness and generosity. Then he was gone in the crowd. I caught up with my husband and relayed the story...I turned the folded bill over and saw it was a twenty. We stood speechless in the middle of all this shopping madness and just looked at each other.

I would never have taken the bill this gentleman offered had I not looked into his eyes and recognized his need to give it to me. There was such a look of...longing...the only word I can come up with. Perhaps, somewhere in his life he knew someone with Down Syndrome...a sibling, a childhood friend, maybe a child of his own. Perhaps, he was one of those individuals who gives out money to random people. Whatever the reason, our Annie was the recipient of his largess.

We decided we would indeed buy Annie something she likes since this was his wish. Whenever anyone asks Annie what she likes best for a gift her answer is always "office supplies". Those large packs of different colored computer paper are her favorite. She turns them into her very own masterpieces and gives them to her friends. Santa already had a pack wrapped and ready for her...now she will receive another pack...from an anonymous giver...a mysterious gentleman who picked her out of a crowd and bestowed upon her a gift of Christmas.

                                                                     Enjoy the day,
                                                                           Robyn
                   

                  p.s. I have my own ideas about this "mysterious giver". I'd like to hear from you!