From what little I remember of my childhood, and what little I had had, being an only child I had one thing I delighted in, a box of Hot wheels. A box of Hot wheels was my best friend, rain or shine, day or night.
Five years ago Christmas morning in my absence, my wife of 13 years, Diane, my life, my hummingbird, my love; her life was tragically taken by 6 California sheriff deputies, I imploded. I lost control of myself, any relevance in life disappeared, I too, died that day.
Lost to the world and time I found myself in a small California town at a homeless shelter, a physical wreck, void of love, filthy, emotionally and spiritually torn to my core, a danger to myself and others, sick and emaciated, they took me in.
A few days of rest found me strong enough to get out of bed, these people, (Angels), nursed me back to life. Having always found joy in doing unto others, a little more recovery time found me busy about the shelter occupying my brokenness. The day had drawn and in through the door came 2 lonely faces, a twenties something young man and his very young son. I will name them Aaron and Kyle. They had only one another.
The next morning I looked on as Aaron and Kyle departed for the day, and around the shelter I busied myself. Soon enough I was directed to a closet in desperate need of cleaning, while I pulled out the clutter, in one corner I spied a small cardboard box, looking inside to my delight were several small Hot wheel cars. At that very same moment I went back through time as the joy I had had as a child I now held within my hands, a box of Hot wheels. I knew exactly what I had to do. The last I smiled was Christmas eve.
I cleaned and polished those little cars as good as new, wrapped them up back into the box, taped it up, and on the box I simply wrote; Kyle. I then placed the box on Aaron and Kyles bed and waited.
That evening when the doors were opened, in they walked, bedraggled and worn, went to their bed. Puzzled, Aaron picked up the box and gently shook it as Kyle watched. He then opened it. I was completely unprepared for the emotion that began to wash over me, and him. He then looked up to heaven and thanked God, and through the tears I did as well, looking away so he would not notice me.
What joy I had found in that one simple random act of kindness.
Never shall I forget the tears of happiness on Aarons face, or Kyle, running to and fro, in each hand a Hot wheel, vroom vroom vroom!
But most of all, I received that day what I had lost, A most special gift ---- LOVE. I would never have ever thought that I would find the love of God within the precious little hands of a four year old boy. In that moment I received my Christmas lost, for I know up in heaven with the Lord among His angels, my Diane smiled too.
I never told Aaron it was me, I wanted the magic to last, and more than that I now understand how one act of kindness sends ripples of love throughout the entire world. For me, this one act became one of my crowning jewels of my entire life through the love a father has in his son, my shattered heart beginning to heal, the love God gives us all so abundantly....... And a box of Hot wheels!
Five years ago Christmas morning in my absence, my wife of 13 years, Diane, my life, my hummingbird, my love; her life was tragically taken by 6 California sheriff deputies, I imploded. I lost control of myself, any relevance in life disappeared, I too, died that day.
Lost to the world and time I found myself in a small California town at a homeless shelter, a physical wreck, void of love, filthy, emotionally and spiritually torn to my core, a danger to myself and others, sick and emaciated, they took me in.
A few days of rest found me strong enough to get out of bed, these people, (Angels), nursed me back to life. Having always found joy in doing unto others, a little more recovery time found me busy about the shelter occupying my brokenness. The day had drawn and in through the door came 2 lonely faces, a twenties something young man and his very young son. I will name them Aaron and Kyle. They had only one another.
The next morning I looked on as Aaron and Kyle departed for the day, and around the shelter I busied myself. Soon enough I was directed to a closet in desperate need of cleaning, while I pulled out the clutter, in one corner I spied a small cardboard box, looking inside to my delight were several small Hot wheel cars. At that very same moment I went back through time as the joy I had had as a child I now held within my hands, a box of Hot wheels. I knew exactly what I had to do. The last I smiled was Christmas eve.
I cleaned and polished those little cars as good as new, wrapped them up back into the box, taped it up, and on the box I simply wrote; Kyle. I then placed the box on Aaron and Kyles bed and waited.
That evening when the doors were opened, in they walked, bedraggled and worn, went to their bed. Puzzled, Aaron picked up the box and gently shook it as Kyle watched. He then opened it. I was completely unprepared for the emotion that began to wash over me, and him. He then looked up to heaven and thanked God, and through the tears I did as well, looking away so he would not notice me.
What joy I had found in that one simple random act of kindness.
Never shall I forget the tears of happiness on Aarons face, or Kyle, running to and fro, in each hand a Hot wheel, vroom vroom vroom!
But most of all, I received that day what I had lost, A most special gift ---- LOVE. I would never have ever thought that I would find the love of God within the precious little hands of a four year old boy. In that moment I received my Christmas lost, for I know up in heaven with the Lord among His angels, my Diane smiled too.
I never told Aaron it was me, I wanted the magic to last, and more than that I now understand how one act of kindness sends ripples of love throughout the entire world. For me, this one act became one of my crowning jewels of my entire life through the love a father has in his son, my shattered heart beginning to heal, the love God gives us all so abundantly....... And a box of Hot wheels!