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SALT LAKE CITY — The Christmas season is a time when many look outside of themselves and reach out to others.
This week, we are sharing Christmas-inspired moments that made someone's day. If you've experienced any moments the season prompted, share them by emailing the author at crosenlof@ksl.com.
On being glad for a stranger:
Brittany F.
"On Dec. 23, I was at Walmart getting groceries and a few last-minute Christmas items. I was in the checkout line with my then 10-month-old baby. I had just found out I was expecting another baby, our fifth, in the summer — our little Christmas surprise. A woman in line in front of me starting chatting with me. She told me how cute my baby boy was and asked how many children I had. Just friendly chit-chat. I told her I had four boys and just found out we were pregnant again. We laughed a little at the surprises life sends you.
"After she was done checking out, she came back and put $40 in my hand, telling me to have a Merry Christmas. I was in shock. I just said 'thank you so much.' I paid for my things and starting walking out of the store barely able to contain my tears. I got to my car and called my husband and told him what happened. We are not needy financially and have always been able to take care of ourselves, but it was very touching that someone would be so charitable and want to help a young mother with four little boys at Christmastime. There's just something about the holidays that brings out the good in people. It is so awesome!"
Have you seen any moments of service or kindness? Do you want to share a story about something that made your day? Email a brief story (100 words or fewer) along with any photos or video tocrosenlof@ksl.com.
On thanking law enforcement and their families:
Abbie B.
"A few Christmases ago I was in line at Kohl's purchasing some last-minute gifts for my two girls. My husband works for the Utah Highway Patrol and I had on a sweater with their logo on it. A man behind me asked if my husband was a police officer, I told him he was. He asked if he was working a lot this Christmas. I told him yes, he works every holiday.
"He offered to purchase the gifts I had in my arms as a thank you for his service. It was such a nice gesture I have never forgotten. Especially now with so much anger toward police officers, it is nice that there are people out there who still realize the many sacrifices these people make every day for our safety."
On helping a stranded couple:
Jeff E.
"This was many years ago. My pregnant wife and I were headed from Utah to California for the Christmas break. We had driven between Utah and California several times but this time decided to take Highway 50, having never driven that route before. We ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. We had pulled off the road but didn’t have the hood up or another indication that we were in trouble.
Related:
'Your honesty paid for it' and other moments that made someone's day
Anyone with a clumsy bone in their body knows the embarrassment of breaking something that doesn't belong to them. But how we respond to that accident is what people will remember."Not more than 10 minutes passed before a kind stranger, who happened to work for an oil company and had a four-wheeler and a gas tank in the back of his truck, pulled up and asked if we needed help. He gave us enough gas to get to the next town and for thanks only asked that we stop at one of his company’s stations to fill up. We gratefully did."
On showing gratitude for a server:
Jeff M.
"I have a friend who has a lovely Christmas tradition. Every year about Dec. 1, they get a brand new $100 bill and stick it in their wallet. They then eat out together more often than normal at places where a big tip is not common for servers. They pay particular attention to them and their interaction with their server during their meal. At some point, they meet the right person and look at each other and they generally know together that this is the one.
"They then quietly leave the $100 bill as the tip for their meal. Sometimes they have been in their car and have seen the joy and shock that the server demonstrates when they realizes what they got. Generally makes for a very good Christmas not only for the server, but for them too."
Have you seen any moments of service or kindness? Do you want to share a story about something that made your day? Email a brief story (100 words or fewer) along with any photos or video to crosenlof@ksl.com.
