I’ve struggled with sharing this because I didn’t want it to sound like bragging—but today, I just have to share the story of my middle daughter. Her heart, her compassion, and her thoughtfulness are something that left me speechless, proud, and deeply moved.

A while ago, Olivia came to me with a request that I’ll never forget. She wanted me to donate her Christmas money to a non-profit organization called Buy A Tree, Change A Life. The mission of this organization is to take children off the streets, provide them with a safe home in orphanages, feed them, give them an education, and protect them from the dangers of exploitation. It’s a place where hope is restored, where lives are literally saved, and where children are given a second chance.

When Olivia told me this, I felt a mix of emotions. Pride was at the top of the list, but I also felt hesitant. It was her Christmas money, and I wanted her to have a joyful holiday like her siblings. I worried she might feel left out, or that she would be sad without gifts of her own. Even my youngest, Nessa, tried to soften the decision by saying she would share her presents if Olivia didn’t receive anything.

But Olivia was firm. She wanted to give her Christmas away, to give it to children she didn’t even know, children who needed it more than she did. I could see the determination in her eyes, and I knew I couldn’t say no. With a full heart, I made the donation, honoring her wish.

Little did we know the magnitude of what that gift would bring—not just to the children receiving it, but to Olivia herself. A few weeks later, she received something back that left both of us in tears. Five young teenage girls, whose lives had been completely transformed by the non-profit, wrote letters to her. They told her how her gift had saved their lives, how it had given them hope, and how grateful they were to someone who had shown them such kindness.

The letters were filled with stories of struggle, fear, and survival—and in the middle of it all was Olivia’s Christmas gift. The girls expressed how her generosity made them feel loved, seen, and safe for the first time in their lives. They didn’t just receive food or education—they received a reminder that someone, somewhere, cared about them enough to make a sacrifice on their behalf.

Reading those letters, my heart felt like it might burst. Pride, joy, gratitude, and awe all collided in a whirlwind of emotion. My little girl, just a child herself, had made a choice to give, to share, to sacrifice for the well-being of others—and in doing so, she had changed lives.

I realized in that moment that this is the kind of teaching that no classroom or book could ever provide. It’s the power of leading by example, of living with compassion, and of understanding that real happiness sometimes comes from giving, not receiving. Olivia’s gift wasn’t something wrapped in shiny paper or adorned with bows—it was a gift of hope, love, and life itself.

I am truly blessed and beyond thankful for the hearts my children have. This Christmas, Olivia showed me the true meaning of giving. She reminded me that even the smallest act of kindness can create a ripple effect that reaches farther than we could ever imagine.

These letters, these stories, these moments—they are now some of the most precious things I will ever hold. Olivia didn’t just give away her Christmas money; she gave life, love, and hope to children who needed it most. And in doing so, she also gave me a lesson I’ll never forget: that the truest gifts come from the heart, and that generosity has the power to change the world—one life at a time.