It was a cold and bitter winter's night. Last minute Christmas shoppers busied in and out of shops, searching for gifts to be bought while the carolers happily walked down the street merrily singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".
Walking down the streets was an elderly and poor man who was carrying a rather beat-up black violin case. He stopped by the ten-foot tall Christmas tree and opened his violin case. He slowly and carefully pulled out a well-polished and well-maintained violin and a bow. Although the violin was very old, the elderly man never considered throwing it away or selling it. His father gave the violin to him when he was twelve and it carried all his childhood memories. He had vowed that he would carry this violin till his death.
He propped the violin on his left shoulder and began to play Christmas carols. He was a very skilled violinist but none of the passerby even bothered to give him money or even told him what a wonderful violinist he was. He stood there in the bitter cold, playing his violin, hoping to earn a few dollars so that he could buy his grandchildren Christmas presents.
After nearly and hour of playing, a woman in her late forties came up to the elderly man. She had a kind smile on her face. Clinging onto one of her hands was a young toddler carrying a paper bag.
"Merry Christmas," the woman said, smiling. "You are a wonderful violinist. I haven't heard one so talented as you are since my husband passed away. It's been a long time since I've heard beautiful music," she told the elderly man.
"Why, thank you, madam," the elderly man smiled, delighted at being praised.
"Here's a little something for you and Merry Christmas to you," the woman said, pressing a Christmas present and a fifty-dollar bill into the elderly man's trembling hands.
"Thank you so much," the elderly man's voice trembled in gratitude. "Now I can buy my grandchildren Christmas presents and I'll be able to see their happy little faces. Merry Christmas to you too," tears of joy spilt down the elderly man's wrinkled cheeks.
"You don't have to thank me. I should thank you, for the beautiful music," the woman smiled and walked away.
"Merry Christmas!" the toddler shouted with a happy beam on his face as his mother lead him down the streets.
"Merry Christmas," the elderly man whispered, waving, his hands still trembling as he did so. He dried his eyes with his torn handkerchief and packed up his violin. On his way down the streets to the nearest gift shop, he saw the Salvation Army standing next to a Christmas tree, where the homeless children wrote down what they wished for Christmas in small, square cards and hung them on the tree.
My grandchildren have me to love and care for them but those poor children have no one. The elderly man thought sadly. Those poor children need the gifts more than my grandchildren do. The elderly man went up to the Christmas tree and randomly selected a card. The card was written by a four-year-old who wanted nothing more but toy soldier. The elderly man took the card along with him into the gift shop. He spent thirty dollars on toys for four of his grandchildren and he spent the remaining on a magnificent handcrafted toy soldier carrying a gun that marched when was the key in the back was wound. He had the gifts wrapped up nicely and then, he left the gift shop.
He stuck the card onto the present containing the toy soldier and handed it over to the Salvation Army with a smile and a sincere Merry Christmas.
"Thank you sir and Merry Christmas," was the reply he got from the Salvation Army.
Deep down inside, the elderly man knew that the right person to thank was the woman that gave him the money. Without her, he wouldn't have the money to buy the toys for his grandchildren and the toy soldier for the four-year-old.
He reached home half an hour later. His wife was preparing the Christmas meal in the kitchen. His son and his family were sitting on the couch by the merrily crackling fire.
"Merry Christmas!" the elderly man smiled merrily, set his violin case down and gave his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren a hug each.
"I have a little something for the four of you," he turned to his grandchildren. There was fourteen-year-old Thomas, ten-year-old Mary, four-year-old Joseph and two-year-old Matthew. He gave them their Christmas presents and in return he got four happy faces, thank you and hugs.
"Dinner is ready!" his wife called from the dining room. They all went into the small but cozy dining room.
They sat down by the table and before they ate their meal, they said a grace before meal. The food was scrumptious and it was a pleasant, merry and happy dinner. The elderly man was so happy that he could be with his family for Christmas dinner.
The elderly man thought, 'I met an angel tonight. She was the kindest person I've ever met. Even though she had a toddler to take care of and she was now the breadwinner of the family, she still had the heart of gold to give me money and a Christmas present. She was an angel, an angel with a heart of gold. Her kindness was my Christmas present and she was an angel sent to me by God...'
Gabrielle Jee
An Angel
Heavens opened up today,
Music so sweet to hear,
Light so pure and golden showed the way,
I couldn't see a single tear.
An angel full of grace,
Appeared in front of me,
With a slow pace,
Made her way towards me.
Sent to me by God,
To rule and to guide me,
Chosen by the Lord,
I was the one.
To have an angel,
By my side,
I will never forget it all,
How I met an angel.
Gabrielle Jee