With thoughts of Christmas gifts yet to buy and bills that needed payment, my son-in-law, Daniel, left his friend’s house in mid-December. The gloom of the early winter day did nothing to lift his spirits, or the worries of providing for his young family. His full-time job barely covered the necessities, let alone the extras of the holiday season. Short of a second job pronto, Daniel was in need of a miracle to make this a good Christmas for little ones who still believe in Santa Claus.

As he walked to his car, Daniel had his eyes downcast, matching his mood. As he walked down the driveway and onto the sidewalk, he noticed what looked like money lying on the ground. He bent over to pick it up and found it was a pack of $20 bills held together by a paperclip. He had his miracle! This unexpected find would help him put the finishing touches on the holiday without straining his ability to pay the bills.

Daniel looked up; his mood was lighter now. He had gone from feeling hopeless to feeling things were possible now. He counted: seven $20 bills in the packet. Someone else’s loss, a stranger, was going to be his family’s gain. Daniel was elated with his good fortune. “Finders keepers,” was the first thought that came to his mind.

As he stood there with the money in hand, Daniel noticed an older woman walking slowly toward him on the sidewalk, her head bent down, talking aloud to herself. She was surprised when she looked up and saw Daniel standing there.

“Ma’am, is everything okay?” Daniel asked the woman who looked as if she had been crying.

“I … I lost my money. I must have a hole in my coat pocket. It’s all gone,” she said mournfully. “It’s all I have left from my Social Security until the first of the month. How will I live?”

Daniel hesitated for just a moment as he looked at the woman standing with him. “Did your money have a clip on it, ma’am?” he asked.

“Why yes, it did! I put a paperclip on it and folded it over. Did you see it?” she asked incredulously and with hope in her voice.

Daniel took the money he had placed in his pocket and handed it to the woman. Her hands were shaking as she took the money from him.

“Thank you very much. Where did you find it?” the woman inquired.

“Right here,” said Daniel. “Merry Christmas to you.”

Daniel went to his car feeling some sadness about not having found the solution to his money woes, but richer in his heart for doing the right thing.

— Deb Jones, Michigan

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