The holiday season can be a time of joy, but it can also shine a painful light on struggle. For one young boy named Jacob and his mother, Christmas looked like it might come and go without the magic most children wait for all year.
Abby Meehan was finishing her shift at the grocery store when Jacob and his mom came through her line. As she bagged their groceries, Abby did what she often did—chatted warmly, asked about their Christmas plans, and what Jacob hoped to find under the tree. With a shy smile, Jacob said he had asked for games.
Then came the quiet truth. His mother, with a softness that carried both love and worry, said: “Santa won’t be coming this year.”
The words hit Abby hard. She looked at the little boy—sweet, hopeful, and undeserving of disappointment—and knew she couldn’t just let them walk out of the store. So, before they left, she gently reached for his mother’s arm and asked for her phone number. Abby didn’t have a plan, only a determination: Jacob would not go without.
When her shift ended, Abby went straight to the store again. She bought the very games Jacob had wished for, wrapped in the spirit of love and generosity. Later that night, when Jacob received the gift, his reaction made every effort worthwhile. His face lit up, tears flowed, hugs were exchanged, and joy filled the room.
For Jacob, it was Christmas restored. For Abby, it was a reminder of something deeper: that the season isn’t defined by the number of gifts beneath the tree, but by the love we show and the lengths we’re willing to go for others.
“What I learned tonight,” Abby reflected, “is that it doesn’t matter what you have or don’t have. It doesn’t matter how many presents are under the tree. What matters is showing the people you love how much you care for them, and knowing who you are and what you stand for. Everyone deserves to be happy at Christmas, but sometimes you have to go out of your way to make it happen.”
Her act of kindness wasn’t grand, but it was profound. It reminded everyone who heard the story that the true magic of Christmas is found in compassion—and in the courage to see someone’s need and answer it with love.
