The other day a story was told to me that will not make national headlines or even the local news but I believe that it is worth sharing.

Here is the story.

A woman in her early thirties is caring for her disabled, widowed Mother and her sons. She works long, hard hours as a food server, providing all the necessities for her family. Being considered “middle class’ by the government, she receives no benefits. If she didn’t work or worked less, she would receive many benefits. Recently her car broke down and she did not have the additional money to pay for the repairs. Not one to complain, she increased her work hours to the point of exhaustion. This past month, she fell behind on her bills.

Her best friend called her the other day from hundreds of miles away. Knowing her friend to be one of the most emotionally strong women she knew, the best friend was worried because her friend was crying on the phone. “I don’t know what will happen to my family”she said. “If I don’t come up with the rent by Thursday, the landlord is taking me to court. I will be evicted and I have nowhere to go. I have called every agency I can think of…No-one will help because I have a job.”

Her best friend, a.k.a my youngest daughter, reassured her that she would do everything in her power to help her. Unable to provide her friend the money (a little over a thousand dollars) she reached out to all her friends for help. Sadly, with the economy being so depressed, she received an outpouring of loving words but few offers of financial aid.

My youngest daughter was devastated. Her heart was so heavy on Wednesday because she knew time was running out. We talked several times during the day and together we prayed for a miracle.

And then I received the call. “Mother” my daughter excitedly said, “A facebook friend I have never met in person has offered to help. He said he will pay my friend’s rent and late fees tomorrow morning. He is waking up at 5 a.m. California time so that he can pay it on his debit card the minute the rental office opens up. Do you understand what this means? My friend will not have to take off work to go to court. She will be able to stay in her apartment and continue to provide for her family.”

She went on to tell me how her friend, her 13 year old son and her Mother cried for joy. They needed a miracle and they received one.They immediately called the man and thanked him and promised to repay the money as soon as possible.

As I listened to my daughter share the happy ending, my heart overflowed with joy.

I knew this story would become my Holiday 2011 Story….A love story about a “stranger” thousands of miles away, who did an extraordinary act of kindness.

“We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa