A Christmas Story
By Hembree Monk
Photo by Paul Brennan
One morning on his way to work, David Monk stepped out of his kitchen and into a garage wreathed in flames. Two cars, cardboard moving boxes, and a pile of recently unpacked Christmas decorations were disappearing in the heat and fire.
Covering his face with his sleeve, David was back through the door in an instant, shouting “Call 9-1-1!” to his wife Lori while slamming the door behind him. In one motion he unbuckled his daughter from her high chair at the table and thrust her into Lori’s arms, still shouting “Go! Get out! Get out of the house!”
Lori took just a moment to put a coat onto her confused two-year-old before bolting out the front door and across the street where she left the child with her stunned new neighbors, then ran back to join David in salvaging anything they could from their new home, throwing whatever they could get their hands on out the windows onto the frozen grass before the heat drove them from their new home one last time.
Within minutes, firefighters, police, and neighbors from all around lined the streets of the small neighborhood. The couple was left with next to nothing, and the young family that had recently moved to town was now a story on the front page of the Newnan Times-Herald.
“We tried to save clothes, linens,” Lori recalled of that day. “You know, all the things that weren’t burned up. But we ended up having barely more than the clothes on our backs. There were people everywhere. Men putting out the fire, police, and journalists asking me questions, but all I could do was sit and watch my house and all of my belongings in flames. I was paralyzed. We lost photo albums, Christmas and wedding gifts, baby clothes, even my great grandmother’s baby grand piano.”
Personally, I don’t remember much about that day, being the two-year-old involved. But the way my parents tell it always gives me chills. Our family lost nearly everything we had that December, right before Christmas and just two weeks after my birthday. But what must have seemed like rock bottom, in those moments, turned out to be one of the most memorable Christmas blessings in our lives.
Friends and family rallied around us. We secured a rental house across the street from the ruins of our home and discovered that it had been filled with donated furniture and clothing from folks in the community. And people we’d never even met were bringing hot meals every day. These strangers quickly became friends, these kind people who didn’t even know us but who nevertheless worked tirelessly to make our new house a home. They replaced our Christmas decorations and gifts and even brought me new presents for my birthday. We were surrounded with love, support, prayers, and endless donations. My family was overwhelmed with gratitude.
We were strangers in a brand new town…and strangers, complete strangers came out of the woodwork to help our family and I will never forget the kindness and generosity shown to us.
Reflecting on this experience now, as I do every winter, reminds me that everyone has a story that shapes who they are. People you know and people you don’t know — everyone’s story is unique.
The support we received from friends and family became part of my family’s story of healing and recovery. But complete strangers voluntarily donating their time and belongings to a family in need — that was beyond humbling. That became the core of the story, and I believe it is the core of humanity. Selfless people coming together to help a family who had hit rock bottom.
“We were strangers in a brand new town,” my mother recalls. “And strangers, complete strangers came out of the woodwork to help our family and I will never forget the kindness and generosity shown to us. I will forever be reminded of how something as simple as donating used books and toys put a smile on your face.”
Like I said, everyone has a story. My story, losing our home, is tragic. But here’s the thing — many other people in our lives, people just down the street or folks we see every day and don’t really think about, are going through something. Big or small, urgent or long-struggling, you don’t know. But everyone has a burden to bear.
Especially during the holidays, it’s easy to get caught up in our own stories. We worry about things like what presents to get for our loved ones, what casserole to bring to Christmas dinner, or whether our decorations are as bright and new as those at the other houses in the neighborhood. But the holiday season is a time that’s meant to turn our hearts toward generosity and compassion for others. So while we may be deciding on which Christmas tree will look best in the living room, there are people not far from us who don’t even have enough to buy a tree, or gifts for their children. The smallest acts of kindness that may seem insignificant to one family can mean the world to another. And I can attest to this from first-hand experience.
That’s why this winter and in every holiday season I challenge you, just as I challenge myself, to open your heart and show love and compassion to someone else. Caring can take many forms, whether it’s inviting your friend to Christmas dinner who is struggling to make ends meet, donating Christmas decorations to a family in need, or volunteering for a toy drive.
But more than anything, sit down. Listen to someone’s story. Make it part of your story. And fully embrace the reason for the season.
