Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Discover how a single mother in Indiana overcame adversity thanks to the power of prayer and the unexpected support of her community. This inspiring story will make you believe in the magic of Christmas and the strength of faith.
Inspiring Christmas Story: The Power of Prayer
October 1960. One morning, she had only 75 cents in her purse and six hungry babies. Their father had left. The girl was two years old and the boys were between three months and seven years old. Their father had never been more than a threatening presence.
A Christmas Story — The Power of Prayer
They would run and hide under their beds whenever they heard the sound of tires squealing on the loose gravel on the way home. However, he gave me $15 a week to buy food. There would be no more beatings now that I had decided to leave, but there would also be no more food.
I didn’t know of any government welfare programs in southern Indiana.
So, I bathed my children, scrubbed them until they looked new, dressed them in the best homemade clothes I had and then loaded them into the old rusty ’51 Chevy and set out looking for a job. The seven of us visited every factory, shop and restaurant in our small town.
We Had No Luck
I tried to convince anyone who would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything while the children were cramped in the car, making an effort to stay quiet.
I was required to work. Even so, I had no success. The last place we visited was a restaurant (rest stop) called The Big Wheel, a few miles out of town.
Granny
The owner, a frail woman named “Granny,” peeked out the window and noticed all those children in the car. She needed a worker for the night shift, from 11 PM to 7 AM.
She offered me 65 cents an hour and I could start that night. I rushed back home, called the babysitter and convinced her to stay at my house for a dollar a night. She could stay on the couch and visit me at home in her pajamas.
She thought it was a good deal and agreed. That night I started working at The Big Wheel while the little ones and I knelt to pray. We all thanked God for getting a job for Mom at that moment.
I sent the babysitter home with her dollar, which represented half of my tips for the whole night, when I got home in the morning.
The heating costs increased as the weeks passed and the tires on the old Chevy began to look more and more like underinflated balloons as time went on. Before leaving for work and after returning from work, I had to re-inflate the tires.
Four New Tires
One gloomy morning, I discovered four new tires waiting for me on my car as I headed to it in the parking lot. Had heavenly angels come to live in Indiana?
To put the tires on my old car, I had to make a deal with the local mechanic. I remember it took much less time for him to put the tires on the old Chevy than it took me to clean his grimy offices.
Although I was already working six nights a week instead of five, it wasn’t enough. I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids at Christmas.
To ensure there would be toys on Christmas morning, I started painting some old toys with red paint and hiding them in the basement. The well-made clothes for the children included boys’ pants with patches, which would soon become unusable.
The night before Christmas, the regular customers of the restaurant came in for coffee. Among them were policemen and truck drivers. There were some musicians at the machines who had performed there before. The regular customers sat and chatted until the wee hours.
When it was time to leave at 7 AM to put the toys I had organized under the makeshift tree we had created, I hurried to the car to try to get there before the kids woke up.
I had poor visibility because it was still night, but I spotted a shadow in the back of the car. There was something there, for sure. I peeked through the car’s side window when I got there.
My Mouth Dropped in Astonishment
The trunk of my old Chevy was completely full of boxes. I hurried to open the door and open a box. Inside were pants from sizes 2 to 10.
The shirts for the pants were in another one. Additionally, numerous bags contained groceries, candies, and fruit. These included puddings, cakes, cookies, and jellies. There were also cleaning supplies for my house, as well as five toy trucks and a beautiful doll.
On the most incredible and unforgettable Christmas day of my life, I watched the sun rise as I headed home through the deserted streets. I was sobbing with gratitude and amazement.
I will never forget the smiles on my children’s faces that morning.
Yes, there were angels that December morning in Indiana. Moreover, all of them were patrons of The Big Wheel. I believe that God can only answer prayer in three ways:
—Yes
—Not yet
—I have something better in mind for you
Christmas is a time for miracles, and this story demonstrates the incredible power of prayer and human kindness. Do not lose faith and always seek help from your community. Share this story to inspire others to believe in the power of faith and solidarity.
