Christmas Kindness

by Kay Heitsch

My Mom came from a family of 14 children. Christmastime wasn't always the best. However, there was a man who went out of his way to make the day special.

Over the years, my Mom talked about how this man would come out on Christmas and bring candy to her brothers and sisters. Mom never forgot his kindness. I believe because of the kindness shown to her at Christmastime, Mom made it a point to do extraordinary things for the less fortunate.

Mom was a great baker, and she did bake cookies, but she wanted a variety to give away. There was a lady in town who made and sold cookies. Mom would place an order, and when the cookies were ready, we would go over and pick them up. I well remember the wonderful smell of cookies when she opened the door. After we had the cookies, I'd help Mom divide them up on plates, and we would deliver them.

One summer, we went back to Mom's hometown. As I remember, we brought some flowers and candy with us. We drove to the man's house who had given Mom the candy on Christmas so many years before. Mom knocked on a large wooden door. An elderly, frail man answered. Mom introduced herself and thanked him for the kindness he had shown her family so many years before. Then she handed him the flowers and candy and gave him a hug.

I'm thankful I had a Mom who taught me to give. I may have been an only child, but I was always giving toys, etc., away to children who had less than I did. She taught me, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35.

Finally Able To Enjoy Christmas

by Kay Heitsch

Christmas can be a challenging time for many people. They may be remembering an unpleasant childhood, they may be experiencing the loss of someone, they may be alone, the list goes on and on.

My dad had a tough childhood. His mom died at age 5, and his dad went into a deep depression. By the age of 9, my dad was smoking and drinking, and he started to work on the railroad. Needless to say, his Christmastime was anything but pleasant. All these experiences made my dad a rough and tough man.

When Christmas rolled around each year, these unpleasant memories seemed to take over my dad's thinking. He now was an alcoholic. As I saw it, the way he dealt with life many times was to try and numb his bad memories with alcohol. When he did, he was very verbal, and Mom and I had to hear his unhappiness. When he wasn't drinking, he was a different person.

Dad hated receiving gifts at Christmas. He'd make remarks when drunk that he didn't want or need Christmas gifts now. Dad expressed when he wanted a gift, as a child, no one ever gave him one. My dad's behavior could be pretty bad when he was drinking. However, my mom never talked negatively about him.

Years passed, and my mom died. Bill and I started to see a significant change in my dad. For some unknown reason, he began to enjoy Christmas. He was always excited when we bought him gifts. One year we bought him a microwave. He lived alone, and we'd hear all about what he was making in the microwave. Another year we bought him a radio with a tape player in it, along with some country tapes. I found out he did not like Willie Nelson, but he liked Tom Jones. Now that was a surprise!

I'm not sure why there was such a change in my dad's outlook at Christmas, but I'm so happy that he was finally able to enjoy Christmas in the last few years of his life.

Learning To Trust

by Kay Heitsch

Over the years, our family has experienced some good times, and we've had some tough times too. It's been during the tough times I've witnessed the Lord working, and I've learned to trust.

One particular day during a tough time, I had a phone call that someone had died. I needed to make several long-distance phone calls to let other people know. This was going to be expensive because we had to pay for every long-distance call we made.

It wasn't very long before a friend happened to stopover. Before I had a chance to mention all these long-distance calls I needed to make, she said, "I stopped over because I was given these prepaid phone cards today. I came over to give these to you." Wow, these phone cards were what I needed!

Now, this may seem like a little thing to most people, but on that day, it was a big thing for me.

It was during that time I came across the Bible verse, "They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them." Psalm 112:7

After this particular experience and many others, I have learned to confidently trust the LORD to care for me.

Don't Stop Searching

by Kay Heitsch

If you can't stop thinking about something, don't stop searching.

Yesterday I found out something I have been thinking about for many years. I can't say I thought about this every day, but I have thought about it off and on since I was a child.

Most people think of me as an only child. I was raised as an only child; however, I was not the only child my parents had. My mom gave birth to my brother 12 years before me.

My dad only mentioned my brother once. My mom mentioned him maybe 3 times that I can remember. I knew he was born prematurely, but that was all I knew. I often wondered when he was actually born. I've tried to find out information from my family, but no one knew anything. Some didn't even know he ever existed.

Yesterday I got a hold of Jim, my second cousin who does genealogy. I asked him if he knew anything as he had spent a lot of time with my dad. He didn't, but he started to look into records on the internet.

Lo and behold, Jim found information about my brother. He discovered that he was born on April 1st and died on April 2nd.

I'm happy I didn't give up my search to find out about my brother. Hearing the information had me in tears for some odd reason.

In the Spring, I'd like to put a little marker on his grave. He may not have lived long, but his little sister has never forgotten him.

Unexpected Turn

by Kay Heitsch

I was on my way home from work. I wasn't planning on going anywhere, but I found myself in an area I hadn't been in before.

As I was driving, I saw an elderly woman walk down into a ditch. I thought it was bizarre and ended up turning around and going back to see if she needed help.

Come to find out, she had taken an unexpected turn and was lost. She got in my van, and we drove back to where she thought she had gotten turned around.

To make a long story short, we did find the apartment where she was visiting her daughter. She invited me inside, where we had a cup of coffee and talked.

After our conversation, we both knew her unexpected turn was a divine connection that helped both of us.

Big Announcement

by Kay Heitsch

Our grandson, 8-year-old Eli, attends an academy for gifted children. They do things a little bit differently than he was used to at his old school. To have a job at the academy, you must write a resume and have an interview.

I'm here to announce that Eli received the job he interviewed for at school. He is now the Official Messenger for his class. He told us the first thing he needed to do was to have a Staff Meeting.

Eli! I know you'll do a great job!

LifeTown

by Kay Heitsch

I think it's terrific that schools provide for our children with special needs. Our grandson, Noah, is one of these special children. I'd like to share one way Columbus provides a fun activity for these precious children.

Several times a year, Noah and other students go to "LifeTown." Their first stop is at the bank, where they fill out a withdrawal slip and are given a certain amount of money. With this money, they can spend it at various locations. There's a doctor, dentist, pet shop, art store where they can make a project, movie ticket with popcorn, tricycles where they follow the red and green lights, a hair and nail salon, library, Deli, and Market Place.

At the end of their visit to "LifeTown," they can stop at the gift shop and buy something if they have any money left over.

Going to LifeTown has taught Noah life skills and the value of a dollar. I am thankful for this realistic outdoor city and the people who take their time to help our special needs children learn life skills.

Eli's Classroom Jobs

.by Kay Heitsch

Our 8-year-old grandson Eli started attending a new school this year. I am delighted with the way his new teacher teaches life skills, and I would like to share.

As we all know, most classrooms have jobs that need to be done. In Eli's classroom, these jobs are applied for. The student applies for the job, and they write a resume. After the teacher has read the synopsis, she gives them a time and date to come in for an interview. To have an interview, you must be dressed according.

I am impressed by how the children are being taught a job is something to be proud of. Eli's teacher teaches them at an early age how to apply for a job and what steps they take to acquire one.

I have no doubt that most of these children will feel comfortable when they are actually old enough to apply for a job.

The Secret Room

by Kay Heitsch

Have you ever tried to sound a warning, and the only people who seemed to pay attention were the people you are warning others about?

Years ago, I wrote a letter to the newspaper editor after being given a personal tour of a video store in town. The owner of this store was a friend of an elderly man named Ralph. I knew Ralph from the nursing home I visited every week. For some reason, Ralph wanted me to meet this video store owner, so I walked over one day to meet him.

As we walked into the store, I was introduced to the owner. Everything seemed to be okay. Families were checking out the videos, several teens were wandering around looking things over. This looked like a really nice, safe, family video store.

However, after touring the front of the store, the owner gave me a sly smile and asked us to follow him. Lo and behold, there was another room in the back that most people had no idea was there. In this room were several men looking through pornographic videos. What was unsettling to me was that this was a family store, and this was a hidden secret room.

I was very uncomfortable about the situation, so I wrote a letter to the editor letting the community know that this secret porn room was in the back of this family store.

To be honest, I thought I would receive some calls from churches or people who were upset about the deception going on. However, those who called me and left disturbing messages were people who wanted this room to be kept secret.

A few years later, we moved from this area when I received a very upsetting call. Two teenage girls at a video store in this town had been abducted, and one girl had been murdered by a porn-addicted man.

I sounded a warning, and I received a lot of grief for it! No matter, I will do it again if I see something I truly believe is wrong.

Miss Kitty

by Kay Heitsch

Many years ago, there were no leash laws. People's pets were allowed to roam around freely. It was hard to tell sometimes if an animal was someone's pet or a stray.

While we lived in Kentucky, there was a cat I named Miss Kitty who came to visit every so often. When she arrived, she would meow at the front door. When I heard the meow, I'd run to find some food and water and take it out to her. She would eat, drink, stay a short while, then she would be on her way.

There was a time I didn't see Miss Kitty. I wondered what had happened to her. Then one day, I heard the familiar meow at the front door. When I opened the door, I was surprised! There was Miss Kitty with a tiny kitten in her mouth. After making a big fuss about the little kitten to Miss Kitty, I ran back into the house to get some food and water. I felt sad when I came back to see that Miss Kitty and the kitten were gone.

It wasn't long, and Miss Kitty was back again meowing at the door. This time with another little kitten. This back and forth parade went on until she had shown me all four kittens.

The kindness I had shown Miss Kitty boomeranged right back to me when she brought her four kittens to the door.

Just Be Yourself

by Kay Heitsch

My Aunt Carmeleta was the wife of my mother's youngest brother Fred. Even though my Uncle Fred died many years ago and Aunt Carmeleta is now married to Ken, I still consider her aunt.

Everyone should have a wonderful aunt like Aunt Carmeleta. I lived with her and my Uncle Fred for a year when I was a teenager. Like a lot of teenagers, I had issues with people who talked negatively about me. If you've ever had this happen, you'll understand how hurtful it is.

I'd talk to Aunt Carmeleta about these hurtful things, and she would always say, "Just be yourself." This was great advice! In fact, it has been some of the best advice I have ever received. I learned that not everyone is going to like you, and that's okay. Just be yourself.

When my husband Bill met Aunt Carmeleta for the first time, he didn't think she was for real. He questioned, "How could anyone be so nice and not be a fake?" But he's found out through the years some people can be this nice and be for real.

I've never forgotten the advice to "Just be yourself." We need more people in this world who give great advice and are kind and loving like my Aunt Carmeleta.

Just Breathe & Have Faith

by Kay Heitsch

I had to put the following quote into practice 25 years ago when I was asked to read 1 Corinthians 13 at my precious friend Evy's wedding.

"Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess, just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best."

You may wonder why on earth would read 1 Corinthians 13 be so tricky? Well, there's a good reason why.

Our son, Todd, was a very close friend of Evy. After Todd's death, Evy and I became close friends too. Evy would stop over at our home and spend time with me. Every year on Todd's death, Evy would send me a white rose in memory of Todd.

What was interesting is that Evy was going to marry a man named Todd. I kept thinking, wondering, imagining when I heard the minister say 'Todd' that I would start crying.

I'm here to tell you that I did breathe and put my faith in the Lord that day. Before I read 1 Corinthians 13, I put this verse in my mind, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13.

I did read 1 Corinthians 13, and I didn't cry. Everything did work out for the best, and now 25 years later, Todd and Evy are still married.

A Kind Unselfish Heart

by Kay Heitsch

Our son Todd died suddenly in a car accident at the age of 16. Todd had been a cross country runner in high school. Todd and Andrew were teammates.

On the day of Todd's calling hours, Andrew came to show his respects. My eyes filled with tears when I saw Andrew placed some of his cross country medals in the casket with Todd. I walked over and asked Andrew why he was putting these medals in the coffin. Andrew explained that he would win more awards in the years to come, and he knew that Todd couldn't.

I will never forget this unselfish act of kindness and Andrew's generous heart.

One-Day

by Kay Heitsch

I've had a few one-day experiences that have changed my life forever.

I would have to say the worst one-day experience that changed my life forever was the death of our son, Todd. If anyone has ever gone through the death of your child, I'm sure you would say the same.

However, as horrible as this day was, it was the beginning of many one-day experiences that started to change my life for the better.

I don't believe for one second that my life would have changed for the better had I not had another one-day experience. It was on this day that I gave Todd and myself over to the LORD. On this day, I asked the LORD to use Todd's death for something positive, and if it was His will to use me, I was available.

One-day after another, the LORD used Todd's death and me to bring many positive things out of it.

I love this Bible verse. "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

Was Todd's death good? No, but God used his death to bring good out of it after I turned it over to Him.

One-day can change your life! Even the most horrible day of your life can be used to bring something positive out of it.