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Cream Off The Top
A Story Told by Marcia Mitchell, CEO, The Little Light House It was a typical day just a few weeks ago and I was going through mail my staff had directed my way, when I came to a small rather non-descript envelope. Undistinguished as the envelope was, its contents held a treasure…a handwritten note on a small white piece of paper and a check. The note was from a gentleman. He apologized for the “small” amount of the check ($10.00) and We first met him on a typical day at The Little Light House. Throughout the center, staff and volunteers were busy carrying out individually prescribed activities with the children. I was in my office working. Suddenly a staff member was at my door. “There’s a man asking for you. I tried to help him, but he keeps insisting on seeing the one in charge.” Inwardly, I hoped this might be a foundation representative, reviewing the center in consideration for a large grant. I followed her into the hall where I saw an older gentleman straining to catch a glimpse of the children in a nearby classroom. He was a pleasant-looking fellow, but hardly the picture of a corporate executive or a foundation official. He was plainly dressed in old khaki pants and a threadbare shirt, but there seemed to be a special quality about him. His bald head, plump rosy cheeks, and kind eyes resembled Old Saint Nick himself. I noticed as he came to greet me that he walked with a decided limp. I wondered how long it had taken him to climb the three flights of stairs to our center. I tried to forget the worries left behind in my office and greeted him with a smile. “Hello, sir. How may I help you?” “Are you the one in charge?” he asked, with an element of surprise. Evidently I was not what he was hoping to see, either. I was still in my twenties and hardly the picture of a seasoned executive director. “Yes, sir, I am.” Resigned to the idea of putting his trust in one so young, he finally disclosed the purpose of his visit. “I’ve passed by this place several times. I like what you do here, and I’d like to help.” With that, he dug deeply into his pants pocked and produced a tiny jar filled with coins – nickels, dimes, quarters. “Here,” he said, with warmth in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes. “It’s for the kiddies. It’s the cream off the top!” He came repeatedly in the months that followed. The purpose of each visit was always the same – to present more gifts for the “kiddies.” Little did we realize what a gift the visits themselves were. We eventually learned that our special friend had been fitted with an artificial leg, hence the limp. Maneuvering those stairs was no small feat for him. But he insisted on bringing his gifts in person. He never told us much about himself; however, we did learn he had lost his leg due to complications from diabetes and that he had been searching unsuccessfully for a job for quite some time. His age and his disability proved to be overwhelming obstacles for him. I soon learned that his inability to find work bothered him greatly, but he seemed to make the best of his lot. His positive attitude, in fact, was inspiring to all of us. Once when he was lacking funds, he presented us with S & H Green Stamps he’d received when purchasing gas for his dilapidated old car. Sometimes he brought jewelry for the staff that he had made from small stones he found in a park near his home. He never came empty-handed. And he always left our hearts full! The Little Light House staff members grew to love this special friend. We looked forward to his cheery face, his joyful spirit and his loving ways. When a couple of months had passed without our seeing him, we grew concerned. He had never given us his address or phone number, so we had no way of contacting him. We prayed for his safety and well-being. Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared the first time, he appeared again. With a gift in his hand, he explained he had been in the hospital undergoing tests on his heart. “You know what?” he said, with that twinkle we’d all come to love. “They proved I’ve got a ticker!” But we already knew that. When the Christmas holidays were upon us, we once again were concerned. Our friend hadn’t come around for quite some time. At last, I received a call from him. He explained that his financial reserves had been depleted, and his Social Security check hadn’t arrived. Consequently, he had no money for gas, or for “the kiddies.” He felt so bad about not being able to bring gifts for the children at Christmas time. Nothing I said seemed to ease the burden he felt. I asked him if he had everything he needed. “Oh, of course,” he replied. “The Lord is my shepherd. He takes care of me. I have food and medication to last me at least three or four more days. I’m in great shape. I just wanted you and the kiddies to know why you hadn’t heard from me. I’ll be back to see you before long.” Though it was difficult, I did manage to acquire his address before our conversation ended. After placing a few calls to board and staff members, a unanimous decision was made to deliver a Christmas blessing to this one who had shared so much love with us! Gifts were quickly purchased and wrapped and a date was set to visit him.
It was a frigid December night when we delivered his Christmas basket and learned his well-kept secret – the reason he had been reluctant to reveal his residence. His home was an abandoned converted school bus. His only heat came from the flames of an old gas cook stove. A worn mattress lay in the back where the bus seats had once been located. Though quite humbled and a bit embarrassed by our visit to his “home,” he was, nonetheless, moved by the Christmas gifts and goodies and the love we brought with us. There was barely room for the four of us to stand in the narrow bus. We had entered single file, and since I was the first on, I was the last to leave. As we turned to go, our friend caught my hand and squeezed a crisp, twenty-dollar bill into my palm. “I got my Social Security check today,” he told me. “I want to give the cream off the top to the kiddies.” “But – “I started to protest, with tears forming in my eyes. “Please,” he said. “It’s Christmas! And it’s important to me.” Not long after the holidays, our friend visited us for the last time. In the spring he moved into a heavenly mansion where he resides today. His memory and the selfless life he lived while he was with us, will forever remain in our hearts.
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explained his wife had had a stroke and “funds had been short”. But out of love for the children of The Little Light House, he still wanted to send a check. As tears came to my eyes, I could only think to myself…if only this precious couple could know how they had blessed the heart of God (and ours) with their gift and note! You see, no gift is too small at The Little Light House or in the eyes of God! The gift from this dear couple reminded me of another precious donor we had the privilege of meeting years ago. I shared about him in my book, Milestones & Miracles because I wanted his story to live on forever in the hearts of my readers. I titled the chapter “Cream Off The Top.” As we enter this Christmas season, I wanted to share it with you. I pray it will bless your hearts as much as he blessed ours!