28. My Dad loved to give anonymously !

Christmas Quote by Pres. Thomas S. Monson

"May you have a wonderful Christmas. May there be love and kindness and peace within your hearts and homes. May even those whose hearts are heavy rise with the healing which comes alone from Him who comforts and assures. With the Spirit of Christ in our lives, we will have goodwill and love toward all mankind, not only during this season, but throughout the year as well."
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If you cannot get the Christmas Devotional on your own TV at 6:00 p.m. Sunday Dec. 8th (tomorrow) it will be live on www.lds.org,or you can watch it on the internet address below.       LET'S WATCH IT ! !

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/christmas-devotional/2013/12?cid=HPFR120613187&lang=eng

Today we had some interesting experiences.  I went to the funeral of my first cousin, (on my dad's side -- the daughter of his sister)  a widow and dear lady who lived to the age of 89, married but didn't have any children.  It was her nieces and nephews who prepared and conducted the funeral.  She had really been an inspiration and fun companion for her nieces and nephews, and those who spoke had really nice things to say about her.  The Branch President who was over the Branch in her assisted living center, made some interesting comments.  He mentioned how important the total family is, that she had been a great influence on her nieces and nephews, and that often our sphere of influence spreads to extended family members.  He encouraged each of us to go visit family members who may be alone, elderly, or needing a visit, especially at this Christmas time.  People in care centers, or living alone, etc. will be really uplifted by a visit.  I'm sure we all know someone we could really cheer up with a visit.    

I remember my dear Dad.  Of course, he lived before the days of TV, so there wasn't TV to watch and take up our evenings.  Dad used his spare time going to see many home bound, lonely, or elderly persons -- many who had been friends of his parents years before.  He often would take us with him to visit older people and it gave us a respect and love for older people.

If you have read the story "The Suet Pudding Story" earlier in this blog, or "A Child's Christmas Prayer" you'll get a bit of understanding of him.  Pratt, my father, believed we shouldn't "let the left hand know what the right hand doeth."  ( Matthew 6:3, and 3 Nephi 13:3) He loved to do kind things, especially if they could be done anonymously.  I remember one particular time when a family we knew were sending twin sons on a mission.  He sent some money in an envelope without a return address on it.  The father was so appreciative of it, that he asked all over to find out whose handwriting was on the envelope.  Finally someone recognized my father's handwriting, and the man came to my father to thank him.  Dad was quite frustrated that he had found out.  He much preferred to not make a show of things, or have people find out. 

He also would go to the shut in or home bound people, and take them for a rides.  One day a policeman came to our door, and very apologetically said to Dad,  "Pratt, someone has complained that you are running a taxi service without a license!"  Dad said, "I've never charged a cent, and if you can find one person that said they paid me, you can put me in jail, and throw away the key!"  

In "More Family Christmas Stories" I also tell of how he gave some of the Christmas gifts intended for us, to a family in need.  It was so common for us to see some strange person Dad had invited, to Thanksgiving Dinner, or some other occasion.  (Also in the Suet Pudding post).   He was a barber, and couldn't work steadily due to his bad nerves, (Shell Shock in World War I.)  And when he was able to work, he gave free haircuts to the Indians, in the reservation just west of us, any one in a family who had a missionary out, and to the Temple workers.  Mom said she was hesitant to tell anyone what his price was for a haircut, because he would quote a price he felt the person could pay.

Some of our married children, when in difficult circumstances, have had someone leave money in an envelope, on their porch, or a nice food basket, etc., and not know who had brought it.  The night before our daughter's son came home from a mission, (she is a single mother) "someone" came and put beautiful sod (grass) on their entire front yard, which had been just dirt!  No one in the family inside the house was aware of what was going on outside!  When meeting someone in her ward, I asked if they knew who had done it, and the answer I got was: "We have promised not to tell!"  

When receiving an anonymous gift, we feel like we want to be nice to everyone we meet, in case it was them that was so kind to us!  I hope we can all find some way to do something kind, without the recipient knowing who did it.  It will be exciting for you as well as them, and give you the true Christmas Spirit!

     This is another photo of my dad, Orson Pratt Miles, when he was about 65.