December 10, 2013

Sharing a sweet story that happened at Festival of Trees this year. We have many of them happen each year. We call them "Festival Miracles." Take a minute to read it, it will warm your heart. :)

By Camilla Larsen

My heart is full of love and gratitude for a God who is mindful of us all.
At the Festival of Trees today: 
An older gentleman: (while handing me a $100) "This is so that the next 20 people can experience Christmas."

Me: "Your total is $30, which has already been taken care of"
Festival Attendee: "what?!!?, what do you mean taken care of?" (with a shocked look and tears coming to her eyes) 
Me: A gentleman earlier took care of it already. 
Festival Attendee: Can I share my experience this morning with you? 
Me: Sure, Absolutely! (Seeing that there wasn't a line)
Festival Attendee: My eight year old daughter secretively saved up since coming last year and asked me numerous times throughout the year, "when is the festival of trees mom?" "I told her the dates", and she asked if we could go on the Saturday. "I told her that Saturday would be good." This morning while I was talking with my husband and planning our day we decided that we couldn't afford to get our entire family in and pay for gas and food while we were out, so we decided that it wasn't a good decision. Shortly my daughter ran in and said "mom, is today the Festival of Trees?" and I said "it is, but daddy and I decided that we can't afford to all go. My sweet daughter with a beautiful bright smile said, "yes we can!" and ran away. She returned with a hot pink shoe box full of coins and mostly dollar bills with a few five dollar bills. I started to tear up knowing what she had done over the year. My daughter told my husband and I that Jesus gave her the idea. So, I proceeded to count her money and she had a total of $32. She asked me if it was enough for our entire family and I told her that it was perfect. With the hot pink shoe box in tow, we got ready this morning for a beautiful day that my eight year old sacrificed so much for. 
Me: Thank you for sharing, that is truly incredible! Happy Holidays! 
Festival Attendee: "It will be, this is a great way to start it off, this is a Christmas Miracle." 
-the lady was very emotional and chocked up, and left with tears rolling down her face.
*****This family "coincidentally" lines up right behind the older gentleman. Maybe he saw the hot pink shoe box. — feeling super.