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Home > About Say Hi > Story: The Best Christmas Gift Ever I will never forget the best Christmas gift I ever received and it came from the most unlikely of places. Christmas was just two days away. The stores were closed and the streets of downtown Toronto even seemed quiet. My husband and I were walking home from a Christmas dinner with friends, a last get together, before we all went home for the holidays. The snow was gently falling, the neighbourhood was aglow with Christmas lights. Just ahead of us, I noticed an elderly woman struggling to push her grocery cart along the slippery sidewalk. I suggested to my husband that he offer to help this woman and push her cart for her. She was so thankful for his assistance. We struck up a conversation with Mary while we walked with her. She was in her 80's and her accent told me she was of European descent. She was a lovely woman with warm eyes...and she seemed to be able to look right into my soul. We had barely travelled a block with Mary when she stated "Alright...here will do....thank you so much. You are a lovely couple. I don't have any money, but can I offer you a loaf of bread as thanks." She started to fumble through the groceries in her cart. My husband motioned to her that this was not necessary. We enjoyed her company and we just wanted to see that she got home safely.
"Upstairs? Oh no .... I don't live here....I just "borrow" this doorstep at night as it shelters me from the wind." I couldn't believe my ears! This lovely sweet woman, who was most likely someone's grandmother, called this 2'x4' outdoor cubicle home? The simple fact that this woman who had next to nothing (in a material sense) had offered to give us a loaf of bread as a gesture of her thanks. I was overwhelmed. My husband sensed my reaction and he offered to get Mary a hot cup of tea and a bite to eat before we left her for the night. She hesitated but accepted. Well, we ended up sipping tea on the sidewalk with Mary for several hours as we learned all about how she came to Canada in the 50's; her husband who had passed away; her son and his family and how they were abusive towards her; and how, out of desperation, she ended up calling the streets of Toronto "home". My husband and I walked home in silence that evening. I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt as we opened the door to our warm apartment, decorated so nicley with all the things that made it home to us. Without speaking I opened our linen closet and took out a blanket. I gave it to my husband to take to Mary that evening. When he returned home, we lay in bed, thankful for our own blessings in life, but more importantly thankful that we took a moment to stop, say hello and offer to help a stranger through the snow. The gift that Mary gave us that night was one that I will forever hold dear to my heart. It was a true lesson about connecting with someone in my community that I might have otherwise not given the time of day. And I am so much richer for it. In the months that followed, we looked for Mary whenever we went to the grocery store. A wave, a brief chat, a sign that she was okay. The blanket we gave her was always with her in her shopping cart. That seemed to be how we knew she was okay. By Spring, the snow had melted, the air was warmer. We were looking forward to an evening stroll down Bloor Street and maybe a chat with Mary....but, unfortunately, we never saw her again...but we do think of her often as a reminder of what we are all capable of in life! Tracy, Kitchener
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