I want to wish all of you the most Merry of Christmases ever!

This is a story which I have wanted to tell for a bit of time and for some reason the time seems right during this Christmas season.

As I was going through my Christmas decorations I noticed a candle holder and some other Christmas decor that I had no intention of using anymore.

I packed them up in a box, intending to use the box for something other than a donation after I had given the items away.

I loaded the box in my car and drove around with it in my backseat for a couple of days.

Then one day I had a few spare moments to spend and I drove the donation to the Goodwill store.

I parked under the awning and took my briefcase out of the car, hoping to donate the items so I would not see them anymore.

I was intent upon putting the box back in my seat and did so without missing a beat.

What I did not notice was that although the box was in my car, my briefcase did not return to my seat.

I drove off fully unaware that my briefcase was still under the awning out there.

I noticed after a meeting at work that my ipad and briefcase were no longer in my car.

I rushed back to Goodwill thinking that they had surely put it aside. They could not find it but took down my contact information and said they would call if they found it.

I did not receive a call. I called a few friends and asked them to pray.

I felt so stupid for a moment then realized that those people who worked at Goodwill may have needed what was in the briefcase more than I did. I rectified my mind to having made an unintended donation.

I tried to be very nice when I went back a second time. It wasn’t their fault that I had left it there, it was totally my fault, no need to be ugly.

I went to Walmart and bought another briefcase which I liked much more than my former one and called my friend telling him to shut the ipad down completely; since he was the one who had blessed me with it to begin with.

After this was all done I went to bed and in the morning I woke up with the greatest sense of peace.

I decided to go back one more time to the Goodwill store on the off chance that someone had found it.

The handsome African American man who had denied ever seeing it the day before broke out into a wide smile when he saw me. “We found it,” he said. “We have it in the office.”

I was overjoyed but not only because I had my briefcase and ipad back but because of the goodness of the people at the Goodwill store. I doubt that they make much money at all but the people at that store had something that money can not buy. They had honesty and good character.

When the Angels said “Peace on Earth and Good will to Men,” I believe they may have had these wonderful folks in mind.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!