Clankity Clank, Clankity Clank,
Clankity-Clankity-Clankity Clank. It was a cold, December day. I had just
pulled up to the department store in my old car. As soon as I got out the
Winter wind bit into me. Yet, carried on this bitter wind was the sweet
sound of a bell ringing. I looked towards the entrance of the store and saw
a Salvation Army bell ringer in front of it. She was an older lady, clearly
in her eighties, but she wore a Santa hat and a big smile as well.
I'd always tried to drop a dollar in the kettle
when I walked by these bell ringers. The Salvation Army did wonderful work
all over the world helping those in the most need. When I glanced in my
wallet this time, however, I didn't have anything smaller than a five. I
fished around my pockets, pulled out around fifty cents in change and walked
up to the lady. I apologized to her for not giving more. "That's ok,
Sweetie," she said. "Every little bit helps."
When I looked in her eyes at that moment I saw the
love of Christ shining in them and when I saw her happy smile I could feel
my soul grow lighter. I reached back into my wallet, pulled out the five
dollar bill, and dropped it in the kettle. I walked in the store knowing too
that the gift she had just given me was worth far more than any amount of
money I could ever donate.
As the years have passed since then I have
cherished that gift and used it often. It has warmed my heart during the
cold times and helped me to warm others as well. That gift was the simple
truth: "Every little bit helps." Every smile we share, helps. Every caring
word we say, helps. Every act of kindness we do, helps. Every bit of love we
give, helps.
Robert Fulghum wrote: "The world as it is
needs those who will love it enough to change it, with what they have, where
they are." Be one of those people. Help God to change this world with your
love. And always remember "Every little bit helps!"
Joseph J. Mazzella