10 stories of kindness that will make your holiday

10 stories of kindness that will make your holiday

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SALT LAKE CITY — With just a few days before Christmas, we're sharing the last of your Christmas stories.

For the last couple of weeks, we've been sharing holiday-themed stories written by our readers for the Monday Make Your Week columns. This time, we have 10 readers stories for you.

Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, this season is made brighter by people who are realigning with their beliefs, remembering what they've been given and giving what they can to others.

The gift of perspective:

Pamela V.

"In Dec. 14, 2000 I was nine months pregnant and scheduled to be induced the next morning. My husband had to work very late that night so he could take a few days off for our baby's birth.

"For some reason, I was determined to get cookies baked and delivered to all of our neighbors before heading to the hospital. So I trudged to the store to buy baking goods with my 3 year old, 20 month old and very large belly in tow, thinking of all I needed to accomplish that night. I was overwhelmed to say the least. As we stood in the store looking for the supplies we needed, an elderly woman approached.She said hello and asked if she could give my children a gift.

"I agreed, expecting a little piece of candy. Instead, she pulled out a small homemade baby Jesus for each of them. Tears stung my eyes and I thanked her. Her kindness made my long to-do list feel manageable. We still have those little dolls and remember the kindness of this sweet stranger each Christmas."

On the gift of royalty:


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.

Eric P."My daughter was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor at 6 months of age. We have spent months in the hospital fighting this monster to no avail. She is now 4 years old and, like any young girl, loves everything Disney princess.

"The latest setback came recently. The tumor is slowly taking her airway, and we had very little choice but to allow the doctors at Primary Children’s Hospital to perform a tracheotomy.

"Day three post-surgery was a terrible, awful day. She was awake, aware, and terrified. It took three adults to hold her down during a trach change. She screamed (the first time we had heard her voice in three days) and we sobbed. We were feeling about as low as possible at this particular moment. It was a dark, dark time in a very long battle.

"At that moment, her dentist came to check up on her, and brought a special lady with him. She was fully outfitted in a Disney Rapunzel costume and you should have seen the smile on my daughter's face! Rapunzel serenaded my baby girl with all of the popular 'Tangled' songs and left her with so many gifts and even made her a real princess (although, she already was).

"There were no dry eyes in that hospital room that evening, the timing could not have possibly been better for my girl, or her mom and me.

"There are very few truly great moments in our days right now, but that was something we will never forget."

The gift of thoughtfulness:

Kathy C.

"In October 1991 I was diagnosed with colon cancer. After two major surgeries and the beginning of radiation and chemotherapy, I was worn out and felt no hope in life. One evening I heard loud jingle bells coming down the stairs at my condo. I prayed whoever it was wouldn’t be coming to my door! But the doorbell rang, and I answered it.

"It was Santa Claus. He gave me a Christmas card with $100 in it and told me it was from someone who loved me very much. Though it’s been 23 years, it still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it."

The gift of Christmas:

Cheryl S.

"Years ago I was a single, working mother raising my son by myself. It was hard mustering up feelings of a merry Christmas with concerns about money. The weather wasn't cooperating with visions of a white Christmas either.

"One afternoon I took my son shopping, making do with what we had. We headed back home to our little duplex apartment and started up a small, uphill driveway. As I pulled into the driveway driving our little unheated, orange Volkswagen Beetle, I had to abruptly stop. At the top of the driveway sat two very, very large boxes. They were tall enough to come up above my waist and very big around. What a Godsend! One of the boxes was filled with all type of foodstuffs. The other box was brimming with wrapped presents.

"I can't begin to describe the feeling of gratitude my son and I felt that a someone cared enough to make our Christmas special. My son is now a 36-year-old adult and me, well, I'm just plain old, but every single Christmas without fail we reminisce about the spirit of Christmas that someone shared with us. Your very kind deed has lived on for years."

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The gift of strangers:

Anonymous

"This year has been an incredibly rough one for our family. Our only vehicle was totaled in an accident and my toddler and husband have had medical expenses right and left. Most recently, we've had some fairly discouraging diagnoses, leaving my husband's work unwilling to work with us.

"Behind on all our bills, I found I was completely out of diapers and had no idea how we were to afford them. Toddler in arm, I went to the store, praying for help to purchase this much-needed item. While heading to the checkout, a young lady walked up to me, extended a gift card and told me, 'I felt inspired that you really needed this. There's $25 on this card.' I was able to breathe a heartfelt thank you before she vanished. In that moment, as now, tears welled up in my eyes in ineffable gratitude for the sincere act of love and kindness in true form with the Christmas spirit. "

The gift of a bed:

Chelsae A.

"About 10 years ago a friend of the family was having a baby and she was in a bad situation. My parents purchased a brand new crib and had the retailer call her and tell her Santa had purchased a crib for her. They stayed completely anonymous to this day."

The gift of reciprocation:

Kate K.

"Many years ago, while living in Ogden, we had several different people live with us while getting on their feet. We moved to Salt Lake, to a smaller home, and my husband became disabled. We were struggling to get by, and it was the beginning of December. I had no idea how I was going to provide Christmas for my family, until I opened the mail one day. There was an anonymous letter, thanking us for helping this family, along with a cashier’s check for $800! I have no idea who sent it to us, but it made our Christmas, and I am forever grateful to this anonymous family."

The gift of a stamp:

Rachelle M.

"I didn't want to go to the post office today, but I was short one stamp for my Christmas cards. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed all of the parking stalls were full, and I inwardly groaned, knowing I would be there for a while. I sighed and entered the Springville post office, where I was met with a long line of people waiting to mail packages.

"I had only been waiting for a couple of minutes, when one of the postal workers asked me if I only needed one stamp. When I told him yes, he opened his own wallet and gave me a stamp and told me it was his treat. He easily saved me 30 minutes, so I want to say thank you to the Springville postal worker, who not only gave me the gift of a stamp, but also the gift of time."

The gift of gas money:

Tracy M.

"I was on the freeway on my way to Christmas choir practice when I realized I almost out of gas and I still had about 10 miles to go. When I got off and stopped at the station, I reached for my wallet only to find I had forgotten it. I began to pray about what to do.

"I felt like I was turned around and walked over to another vehicle. It was my practice not give money to people who came up to me, because I just didn’t want to be taken by someone, but I asked a man if he had $2 for gas. He said he didn’t, but his wife inside the vehicle called me back because she had bills to break. She went into the store and gave me $5. I was so humbled. I got to where I needed and home again. Now our choir will be able to perform at the Assembly Hall on Sunday night on Temple Square. She changed my mind about giving to others."

On the gift of dinner:

Denise

"About two years ago my family and I were really broke. We had about $15 for Christmas dinner I only had flip-flops on as I'm shopping for the food.

"I noticed two ladies watching us shop, and one followed us around the store for about five minutes before she handed my boyfriend a $100 bill. With it, I was able to get more food and do more Christmas shopping. it made our Christmas 100 times better. I never got a chance to thank her before she walked away."

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.

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