“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ‘ (Matthew 25:40, KJV)

Editor’s Note: Last year, December 2021, I sent this to the faculty at my school. Brother David, who was now serving in Detroit, responded with this note: I will never forget the way that God used me as a tool in this story. Angels are still with us. 

A GIFT FOR DAD

Allen and I are wrapping Christmas presents, enjoying a “Dad moment” as we remember the crazy shapes Ron would wrap presents in so no one could guess the contents. Allen sticks a bow onto a gift–just a plain old shirt box–and whispers to me conspiratorially, “I already knew what I was getting Dad for Christmas.”

“Really?” I say in surprise. “Dad died in July. How could you already know what he needed?”

Allen sighs. I know he is processing the words that will make sense to both him and me. Reconciling himself to his father’s death five months ago has not been an easy process and he is still uncertain of Heaven. 

“Back when I thought Dad might come back…” his voice catches “…I was thinking that Dad needed to be safe and protected. You know, from all the illnesses and stuff.” He looks at me for confirmation and I nod. “So, I wanted to get him a big coat–like the firemen wear–to protect him.”

As always, I am touched by the heart of my autistic son whose concern for his ill father was a focus of most of his life. It is a moment before I can trust my voice to answer. “I am sure Dad would have appreciated that,” I say. “But you know, we gave Dad a new coat last year.“He only wore it once.”

Allen does not reply. He picks up another gift to wrap. “I still wish I could give Dad something.”

So do I, I want to say. But a person who is living in the Heavenly Kingdom has no need of material items. Still, how could we honor Ron and his life? I begin to recall the gifts of years past and the many, many years when we had no money to give anything to each other and scraped together Christmas for our kids. Then, a thought enters my mind.

A COAT OF HOPE

“You know,” I say casually, “my school is collecting things to give to the homeless population in

Philadelphia. Every Tuesday, Brother David takes a group down to Center City and gives out hats and gloves and scarves.” I take a moment to fight back tears. “How about if we give Dad’s coat away?”

Allen considers it. “We’re sure Dad won’t need it?”

I shake my head. “No. Dad has no need of a coat. You know where he is, Allen. You know he’s not coming back.”

There is a sigh. Allen’s acceptance of his father’s death is still tenuous. “I know,” he whispers.“Sometimes I just like to pretend he is.”

“That’s okay,” I say. “It’s okay to pretend that. So, what do you think? Should we give Dad’s coat away?” I go on wrapping presents as his atypical mind processes the information.

Finally, there is a nod. “Okay. Can I be the one to put it in a bag?”

“Of course,” I say.

The next morning, I pick up the bag Allen has left on the enclosed porch and carry it out to the car. Even though I was the one who suggested it, I am strangely reluctant to give the coat away. It seems so final.

I bought the coat a year ago with hope: hope that Ron’s physical therapy would help him improve to the point where he might be able to leave the house; hope that with assistance  from his nursing aid and the elevator at church he might once again be able to join me at Sunday services; hope that a few small steps taken outside on the sidewalk might lead to a walk around the park, a Saturday in the spring sitting on a park bench watching the boats sail down the Delaware River, a family outing to a Phillies’ game. 

None of which happened. I feel the weight of the lost hopes as I heft the bag into my car and drive to school, my eyes smarting tears, my heart breaking. I carry it into the school and it sits behind my desk, an accusation. Why did I continue to hope? Why did I continue to think things would get better?

Finally, I ask a student to carry the damning bag upstairs to Brother David. I can breathe easier when it is gone. Back home, I only tell Allen I have given the coat to the school.

CHRISTMAS AS A WIDOW

During the days up to Christmas–my first as a widow– I struggle to maintain some Christmas cheer. I engage with my students and the Christmas traditions of a Catholic high school in the best ways I can: the Ugly Sweater Day, the cookie exchange, the Secret Santa pick. At home I collapse after supper, going to bed early and waking up still tired. I plod along, expending emotional energy at school and with Allen, and helping my two older children as much as I can. I pack away more of Ron’s clothing for the Good Will donations and I order his grave marker at the cemetery. I put up a small tree for Allen and me, I unpack decorations.

 I function.

It is the day before school breaks for Christmas and I am getting my classroom ready for the students that arrive before the first bell, students who are still learning English and crave the warm safety of my ESL room. I am humming “O Holy Night” and taking deep breaths whenever I think of my late husband.

 Ron loved Christmas. Everyday, I swim through the thick memories to surface with my students.

HOPE FULFILLED

I am switching on the lights when Brother David appears at my door. “Merry Christmas,” he says. “I wanted you to know,” he continues, “that your husband’s coat found a home yesterday. We were able to give it to a homeless man who was very appreciative.”

My heart swells even as tears spring to my eyes. I can feel Ron’s warm smile bathing me. My husband had a generous heart.

“But it’s amazing how it happened,” says Brother David. “We’d had the coat a few weeks, you know, but we didn’t meet anyone that needed a 4-X coat. Then, on Tuesday, a large man came by and said he’d been looking for a coat but he could never find one to fit him. He said he didn’t often come down near City Hall, but someone he didn’t know  told him to come see us.  So he came down and there we were. And your husband’s coat fits him perfectly.”

I nod but find I cannot speak.

“He said,” Brother David continued, “that he’d been offered some construction work over the holidays but he knew he needed something warm to wear. He’d just about given up finding a coat. He was wearing a couple of sweat shirts, but that’s all he had. When we gave him the coat, he cried. He said it gave him hope that he could turn his life around.”

I am crying right now, realizing that the hope I held for the coat I’d bought for Ron had been fulfilled after all. Brother David reaches out and hugs me. All day, I hide this gift in my heart, thinking of how my son will react when I tell him his father’s coat is now protecting someone else.

Back home again, Allen has hot tea ready for me and I settle into my chair. “Dad’s coat found a home today,” I tell him. I tell him the story from Brother David. Allen  smiles, then is thoughtful for a moment.

“We should hang up Dad’ stocking,” he says. “Because it feels like Dad is still here.”

“He still is,” I say as Allen dives into the box of Christmas decorations to retrieve the stocking. “And he always will be.”