The winter months can be very difficult for some people. The shorter days mean less sunlight. As an adult, I can fully appreciate the human body’s need for light and fresh air. What has impacted me this year is the full realization that not everyone’s Christmas season is joyful. Recently, I have heard about families with loved ones battling illness, couples struggling in their marriages and friends who have been laid off from their jobs. Northwest Arkansans are feeling the negative effects of our nation’s current economy. Ugh!
These things have given me great pause to count blessings and stop whining (so much). Our youngest daughter had several weekends of cheer competitions this past fall leading up to Christmas break. I spent many Saturdays inside a crowded gym. For one of the competitions in VanBuren, Ark., I was able to take her boyfriend and one of our friends’ little girls to watch her. When we arrived, the parking lot was crowded, and we found a spot between a bus and a police car. It seemed like a safe place to park, so we locked it up and headed inside. The joy of watching a child who looks up to my daughter enjoy the performance was beautiful.
We left the event after the awards, and everyone was starving. When we pulled up the local places to eat, we saw there was a Zaxby’s nearby. We agreed we wanted chicken and French fries. It just so happened, I had some old gift cards in my purse, and we were able to enjoy a meal for four that only cost me a few cents. We felt like we had won the lottery and zipped back home.
From there we enjoyed our youngest son’s basketball game at our home gym. Then, I parked my car for the rest of the weekend. I rode to church the next day with my youngest daughter. It wasn’t until Monday morning when my youngest son looked closely at the front of my car and asked me what I had run into. I had no idea what he was talking about. I had a great weekend and did not recall hitting anything. Sure enough, a headlight was broken, and there was a dent in the hood. I called my husband outside to assess the damage to try to piece together what may have happened. He inspected every vehicle on the farm and couldn’t put it together. He did notice there was a lot of yellow paint on the car – a clue! I told him the only thing I could remember being yellow and near my car was that bus in VanBuren.
When I contacted our insurance agent to ask what we should do, he thought we would probably just turn it in as an “uninsured motorist” claim. I was seriously disgusted to know someone had run into our family’s car and not even left a note. Ugh again!
On Christmas evening I could not sleep, and I was going through our mail and opened a strange insurance company letter in the pile – it was a claim that the school district who was responsible for our vehicle’s damage had made. The insurance company was reaching out to take care of it – a Christmas miracle.
I share this simple story to say, there are still good people in the world who do the right thing. I have no idea why the driver didn’t leave a note the day of the accident, but I can imagine they may be walking through a battle I know nothing about. From forgotten old gift cards in my purse to unexpected letters taking responsibility for an accident, I am feeling thankful. Praying for peace and simple joy in 2024 for all our friends and you too, neighbor.
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
