I’d like to share this story with you. It happened last Chanukah.

A family down the block was mourning the loss of a young mother and wife. One of their children, a four year old boy, is a playmate of my son.

My son had won a “standing microphone” in school the week before. On the first night of Chanukah, he and his friend were taking turns with it when the boy’s father called him to come home for candle-lighting. He refused to go until I convinced my son to allow him to borrow it for candle lighting and singing. He brought it back later that evening.

The scenario was repeated the second night. I saw how attached he was to the toy and wondered if I should buy one for him. I wasn’t sure that his father would appreciate the gesture. It was a real dilemma. On the third night, however, when his sister came to retrieve him for candle lighting, he didn’t ask for the microphone. “He has one already,” the sister explained.

“Did you buy it for him?” I asked.

“No. We got it from Chai Lifeline.”

I was speechless. I asked the girl if she realized how Hashem is taking care of them. Hashem had sent her brother exactly what he wanted. And you, Chai Lifeline, were the messengers. I hope you realize how much chizuk you gave him, and give to all these children.

Chai Lifeline’s Toy Drives collected and distributed close to 60,000 toys this Chanukah.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)