Saturday afternoon was our church's annual trek to Mason City to ring bells for Salvation Army. Our team included eighteen people who manned six doors working in half hour shifts for two hours. We have done it before; some more than once. For others it was a  first time.

I have told our family's Salvation Army story before. One of the team members wanted to hear it one more time:

When Jim was stationed in New Jersey as part of his military service with the Army in the early 1960s, he and some of his buddies spent some time in New York City when they were on a short leave. As he was ready to return to base, he found that someone had stolen his billfold. Leaving him with no identification and no money.

Where to turn? What to do? He chose to go to the Salvation Army for help. One of the people there walked him to the bus depot to purchase a bus ticket back to New Jersey and handed him $3 (remember it was more than fifty years ago) to buy food on the way back to base.

As he was ready to board the bus, he asked the person how he would repay them for their help. "Any time you see one of red kettles in the future, think of us!" the Salvation Army person told Jim.

I saw Jim return the favor many times over the years of our married life.

Jim always appreciated how they handled his request. Not giving him money; instead buying his bus ticket. "They didn't know me," he'd say. "How did they know for sure if the story I told them was the truth?"

Christmas is such a good time to help others, especially the ones which may have helped us!