I helped deliver meals last year on Christmas day to homebound senior adults who were home alone. I had been given a list of names a few days before, and I had quickly counted the number of stops on my delivery route.

I was responsible for delivering 18 meals, but I counted only 17 stops. I hadn’t noticed in my rush to get ready that there was a couple at one stop. Naturally, I only ordered 17 meals. I discovered my mistake when I stopped at the couple’s house and they needed two meals. I then realized I would be one meal short at the end of my route.

The kitchen where I picked up the original meals was closed by the time I knew I was short. The only way I’d have enough meals for everyone on the list was if someone else along the way was not at home or had an unexpected visit from family or friends bearing food and didn’t need a meal after all. Of course it didn’t happen that way.

Everyone of the senior adults on my list were at home, alone and eager for a Christmas meal. I enjoyed their enthusiasm and holiday spirit as I delivered their meals. All along the way, however, I knew my time of reckoning was coming when I’d be one meal short.

It was Christmas morning and businesses were closed, including restaurants and grocery stores where I had hoped to buy an extra hot meal for the last lady on my list. I even thought of buying an extra hot meal at a bar and grill, but all the bars were closed on Christmas day, too.

The only store that was open was a convenience store which had cold sandwiches, milk, and sweets for a dessert. It wasn’t the same as a hot Christmas meal, but it was all I could offer under the circumstances.

When I arrived at the door of the last lady on my route with only cold sandwiches to offer, she could have been angry or rude. Instead, she was gracious. “It’s the thought that matters, young man, not the gift.” I was relieved that she understood, but in a way her understanding made me wish even more that I had a hot meal to offer her.

Later that afternoon, when I arrived at my in-laws house for our own family gathering I related my story of the little lady who got cold sandwiches for Christmas. My in-laws wanted to help and gathered leftovers from our meal for me to deliver the next day.

When I arrived the day after Christmas at the lady’s door, she was surprised to see me. When I explained that I had come to bring leftovers from our hot Christmas dinner, I asked if she minded since it still not the same as getting a hot meal on Christmas day.

“No, I don’t mind at all,” she said. “I’m actually quite surprised that anyone would do such a thing for me. You didn’t have to do this you know.”

“Yes, I did have to do this,” I replied. While it may seem as if I was helping her, really she helped to remind me that it is the “spirit” of Christmas, and not “things” that count most. She smiled as we talked for a moment about Christmas and family.

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