The best thing I ever did

It was November 2008. My wife, Brenda was on the Board of Directors at Love INC. in Newaygo MI, a Christian Ministry. If you know Brenda, that would not surprise you, and neither will this true story about the ‘best thing I ever did’.
Brenda decided to adopt a needy family for Christmas. She asked the folks at Love INC., to help her find the right family. She learned of the children, their names and ages etc. We already knew plenty of needy people including some within our own church and family so what’s the point? It was simply Brenda’s heart for giving. Not mine. Brenda purchased gifts and although she never said so, I’m sure all of them were on sale. I didn’t take part.

Finally on the Saturday before Christmas, Brenda was planning to deliver her surprise load to this small family of mom and 3 young children. Now I love my wife but there’s no way she would ever find this home without help (she didn’t ask for any though), so I decided to take her. We loaded my vehicle with several bags and boxes of sale purchased and beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts, each with a child’s or mom’s name on it. No gps in those days, so I used my Newaygo county map to find the road and then the address.
I pulled into the driveway believing that I had done my duty as a husband, Christian, and generally good person. Brenda waited in the car as I went to the door. No one was around so after knocking for quite a while, I peeked into the window through the back door. The house was mostly empty except for a few items. With a load of gifts and no people we sat in the car and tried to decide what to do. I finally went to a neighbors house to inquire. The gentleman was reluctant to tell us much until he came out and saw the gifts we were trying to deliver. He then told me that the family had been evicted a couple of weeks prior and that they were staying with her brother.
After getting the address to the brothers’ mobile home, we went off to find this young family. When we arrived, Brenda went to the door to confirm and then waved me in. She visited with the young mom as I carried in the bags of gifts. As I got to the door, I saw the young mom in tears and Brenda hugged her and joined in with tears of her own. This young lady put her hand on my shoulder and thanked me with tears running down her face. Brenda told her that the Lord loved her and her children, just as he loves us. The children jumped with laughter and asked who all these presents were for. “I think they are for you,” I said.
After we left, Brenda prayed for the family and she and I cried together. I realized that the best thing I ever did - was due the heart of my wife, Brenda. No surprise.

Bill Shafer