On Christmas Day, my mother (Meg) came over to the farm to have lunch with Anthony, Ming and me. Well, actually she brought lunch! You see we always have Christmas Eve at my mother’s place and she puts on a FEAST, so I figured I could cheat this year and not bother with my own feast and just feast on her leftover feast and that was a great decision haha! She even brought half of the giant pavlova which Ming and Anthony vacuumed down in record time.
Anyway, before we ate, my mother handed me a letter. “This is your surprise,” she said. I already knew she was bringing me a surprise and she had hinted it was a wheel of Jarlsberg cheese (my favourite), so when I opened the letter to read it I assumed that, instead of the cheese, she had decided to write me a loving letter. I already knew she loved me so I was about to say that I would prefer cheese until I began reading ….
18 December, 2013
Dearest Meg,
For many years back at each Christmas Rhonda, Geoff, John and myself, instead of giving to one another, look around to see where we might better place our giving – to someone needing a little tangible help. (We still give to each other a “little something”)
We have had Juli and Ming’s situation in mind, as in prayer, but we thought we should tread cautiously as not to offend Juli’s present somewhat fragile state of mind. So we did take our thoughts in another direction only to find what we had identified had already been resolved. We asked, what was the Lord saying to us?
Meg, we felt we needed to run this first by you as we would not like to add to the stresses Juli is undergoing, and the amount is really quite insignificant in light of what is down the track for her. Can we leave it to your judgement as how best to hand the money on to Juli. She does not need to know from whom it came. Note the cheque is payable to you.
We continue to pray for you all every day. We share your heartaches. We can’t begin to understand the feelings involved but we do understand the love of family and, of course, our love for you has always been a gift from God.
Sincerely,
Bev and John
So I read this letter out loud to Anthony and Ming while my mother smiled knowingly. When I got to the word ‘money’ I began to realize what was going on and my heart started catapulting with a mixture of excitement and anxiety (but mostly excitement). Then, my mother handed me a checque for $1,000!
I/we could not believe it! Okay so I remember vividly playing underneath Bev’s and John’s kitchen table with Rhonda when we were very little, and, more recently, I remember re-meeting Bev and John when they visited the farm with my mother several years ago but, despite how close these friends are to my mother, I don’t really know them very well because they live on the other side of Australia.
Bev, John, Rhonda and Geoff – I am at a loss as to how to thank you properly for this unbelievably generous gift of money, but I will try here: the court costs are going to be big but you have already covered the initial payment to the lawyer. I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to raise the funds and now I am not so scared, not just because of your amazingly generous gift but also because something about your gesture has eradicated all of my fear. My words are clumsy with gratitude – ha!
jmgoyder 
I love that you are surrounded by loving, thoughtful, caring people …
Me too!
What precious people with giving hearts…now, that is truly how we all should be. I am glad that God pressed upon their hearts who would need such a gift. A lovely post, Julie. xo
I am still so gobsmacked!
YOU just used my favorite word…”gobsmacked”….I have generally heart Brits use it and I guess it means “bewildered” or surprised?
we all have angels, these people are some of yours
That’s for sure!
Julie, It is wonderful how expected friends step up in times of need and offer relief. Your post is a wonderful showing of graditude, caring, surprise, respect and love. Please take care, I wish Ming all the good will and consideration he needs to get thru this. Please take care, BIll
This incredible gesture has changed my whole attitude to Christmas and I want to do this kind of thing in the future too – they are wonderful people!
What beautiful people you have in your life. As they have in theirs. From reading this, it doesn’t sound like the money was the best part of the gift at all. 🙂 What a fabulous gift indeed.
Yes, and I still can’t believe it!
Such a lovely gesture, Juli, and clearly from the heart. A dear friend of mine helped me this way once in a time of dire need and I will never, ever forget it. Her generosity and grace of spirit gave me not only the monetary means to get through a very tough time in my life, but also the emotional boost that I so desperately needed. I understand how you feel, I really do. Keeping a good thought for you and your family….
It has made me want to do the same kind of thing next Christmas.
What a precious and thoughtful gift. How lucky you are to have such kindness within your circle.
Yes!
what a beautiful gesture from people who so clearly love you all
I am lucky that my mother is so loveable!
That was absolutely beautiful. I am so happy that you are surrounded by a wonderful support system in your time of trial and tribulation, I know that with you feeling strong, it rubs off onto Ming as well. 🙂
Good point!
😀
Oh wow God works in mysterious ways, using other people to help ease your life. How beautiful and wonderful Julie. I am so happy for you
Thank you Terry – I am still in shock!
Your post brought me to tears of joy for you …. as when others have shown unexpected kindness to me. Lucky you to have such wonderful people in your extended circle of influence. xoxo!
I’ve been teary about it too!
I love when human beings open their hearts like that! I know what you mean when you say that their gesture somehow removes your angst about the court case…it’s like God Himself says, everything going to be fine Jules…Love it, just love it!
Diana xo
Your words make it even better!
Now that’s how to do Christmas! I love this idea of looking around as a group/family, seeing a need and lovingly filling it. Seriously warms my heart.
🙂
I want to do this next year myself!
Every day something comes just in time to remind us just how blessed we are eh Jules? Your cup runneth over in all the things that matter most….xoxo
Definitely!
Your words of gratitude were not clumsy at all… they were genuine… What a wonderful gift to give you from such caring people… Diane
It was an extraordinary moment!
This is truly a gift from special people and I can understand your joy… just goes to show when we think there is no other way out, a turn off in some form or other arrives… this is wonderful for you and your s Julie… you are blessed with good Godly people who think of you…
Very blessed.
I am very pleased for you.
Thank you Tom.
What a nice gesture and very unexpected. It’s always amazing how good things happen when least expected.
I am so grateful!
Can Ming not get legal aid?
Love this. 🙂
Me too!
God always sees your need. What a wonderful gift, Julie!
(I’ve gone teary eyed again)
What a wonderful gift, sometimes things come to us that we really need when we least expect it
This is amazing. I have just made the decision to do something like this next December! Thank you for sharing this.