Wednesday, December 30, 2015

West Edmonton Mall Miracle

Go here. Have fun.
My SIL is a good, hard worker—steady and dependable.
He provides for his family.
All the necessities of life.
The only thing missing is extra money for . . . extras.
Trips to West Edmonton Mall for a day at Galaxyland aren’t within the scope of their usual budget. Thus it was with great joy that their family received, as a gift, passes for just that. A day ‘doing the rides’ and enjoying the fun at the world-famous park.
They packed up snacks and kids and made the twenty-minute trip to The Mall.
They rode, laughed, screamed and loved everything from the Carousel to the Mindbender. Finally, happily exhausted, they took a break—sitting on a set of steps and enjoying some of the treats they had brought.
Directly across from them was a bank of coin-operated video games. Presented, perhaps, as an alternative to riding/rushing/screaming. Or maybe as a little diversion to someone who is waiting for those who are riding/rushing/screaming. These games offer, as a reward, coupons to be used for the purchase of ‘Galaxyland stuff’.
As their family sat eating and recounting their experiences thus far, a middle-aged man (waiting for kids and/or grandkids) was playing one of the games.
‘Hat Trick.’
He was doing well.
Really well.
The machine lit up. And paid out.
2600+ coupons poured forth.
2600. Plus.
SIL laughed. “Wow! If you’re wondering what to do with those, we can take them off your hands!”
The man turned, smiled . . .
And dropped the entire pile into SIL’s lap.
2600+ coupons.
I needn’t tell you about the astonished faces or the hastily gasped out thanks as the man nodded, smiled again, and left.
Or the normally out-of-reach gifts chosen by several little girls who had just received their first glimpse of Heaven.
I would like to ask one thing of you, the reader, though.
Please pass this story around.
I want this man to know the joy he brought to those little girls.
Maybe, somehow, we can thank him.

9 comments:

  1. What a wonderful thing for him to do. Your SIL and his family will remember that day for the rest of their lives.

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  2. To say we were flabbergasted by the pile of tickets given to us would be putting it mildly.

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  3. Wow! Santa in disguise?
    What a wonderful gesture, I can imagine the delight on those little faces.

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  4. Oh, wow ... what a wonderful thing to do. And now, doggone it, you've made me tear up again. AGAIN. I don't know how long I can keep reading these lovely stories.

    Yes I do. Always. That's how long. Bring 'em on, Diane :)

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  5. Winning those games are rare enough, but to have someone spontaneously donate the tickets to us without a thought was truly amazing in the literal sense of the word.

    The other detail that was left out of the story is my wife chose the spot to sit for a snack, not me. So I woukd give credit to her for this boon as well!

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  6. I am with jenny_o here. If nothing else I know that my tear ducts are working just fine.
    What a wonderful man. And an amazing treat for a hardworking family.

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  7. What a lovely thing to do. I wish the kindness that Christmas brings out would last the other 11 months. I can only imagine how they'll think back to that day and the kindness of a complete stranger.

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  8. What a wonderful story - and yes, I am sharing it. Happy New Year Diane, to you and yours!

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