Instrument: Part 3

My father in law is the bishop in their ward. Sunday night after dinner Casey, his parents and I were in the front room talking when their was a knock at the door. Kendall looked out the window and saw a young teenage girl running away, he smiled. Pam opened the door and stuck to the door was a white envelope with the words "Bishop Van Wagoner" written on the front of it. Pam yelled "Thank You" to the unknown deliver and gave it to Kendall. We all just at there as he opened up the envelope and watched as he pulled about a dozen gift cards and a two page letter. At first he read it to himself. Then as tears starting streaming down his face we urged him to share with us. He was so touched he couldnt even read the letter aloud the 2nd time. So Pam read and we all teared up as she read to us a story about a family that USE to be in their ward. A family who 15 years ago this Christmas was going through some extreme hardships. They had a family member in the hospital whom the outcome didnt look well for and little ones that were going to go without Christmas that year. 15 years ago, the Sunday before Christmas there was a knock on their door. When they opened the door, they found a plain white envelope duct taped to the door. Inside there was $300 worth of gift cards to spend on their children that Christmas. You can imagine their surpise and gratitude.
The gift 'Bishop Van Wagoner' received that night was the same gift that young family received all those years ago. Except, there was 1 differance.
It wasnt for him.
The unknown family has made a tradition out of the gift they received 15 years ago. Now that their financial situation has changed, each year they tape a white envelope to the current bishop of that wards door the Sunday before Christmas, with $300 worth of gift cards for him to hand out to families in his ward that are in need that Christmas.
- Casey and I were in awe. We drove home that night wishing we were in a position to help someone that way. One of the neatest things about that tradition to us, was the fact that their young girl delivered that envelop and that she new EXACTLY what was in side. What a great example.