It was one day last week as I was leaving work. I had to stop and get gas at the local convenience store. As I was pulling up to the pump, I noticed about 20 or 30 very young Army Soldiers dressed in their desert camo, milling about the front of the store, duffel bags in tow. I saw their Greyhound bus idling at the edge of the parking lot, apparently their ride waiting to take them to Dobbins en route to the “sandbox.”

As I stood there pumping gas, I kept wondering “what can I do to show my gratitude?” It’s not as if we were all at a restaurant where I could buy their food or a drink, and I couldn’t think of anything. I went in the store to pay for my gas, and after I finished paying there was a very young Soldier behind me. I stepped aside to think… think of something I could do. Then the Soldier asked the clerk, “do you have any calling cards?”

Aha! There was my answer. Thank you, God. I know you saw my heart and wanted to help me find out how to fill it with joy.

Gary, the clerk, told him all he had were 20-minute cards, and not very many of them. The Soldier said “I’ll take one.” I reached around him, handed Gary my credit card and said “I’m buying his card; in fact, give him two.” Just at that moment, three more young Soldiers came in and were next in line at the cash register. I told Gary “…and get one for these three and for that one at the other register.” These heroes seemed embarrassed, saying “no, ma’am, you don’t have to.” I told them “no, it’s not a ‘have to’ thing; I just want to say thank you to you guys for what you do.”

I don’t know why, but I was shaking… as if I were nervous or something. Was it that I was in the presence of these heroes? Or was it because my heart was brimming with peace? It was, after all, the Christmas season, and these young men are leaving home to serve this great country. I don’t know and I didn’t question any of it.

They all walked outside to get back to the group, and I told Gary I wanted to buy every calling card he had. There weren’t enough for all of the Soldiers, but it was what I could do. So I took all the calling cards, went out to my truck to put my wallet away, and approached the group. I handed out the cards I had just bought to the first few in the group that I approached and handed them out, apologizing that the store didn’t have enough cards for them all. I was trembling, but it was a good feeling. They were all like “you don’t have to,” and again I told them it was my way to say thank you to them.

After hugging a few of them, I turned to head back to my truck and said one final thank you and “God bless you for what you all are doing for all of us.” My heart was pounding, and I was still trembling. As I pulled away all I could think of was I hoped one of them would use their card during Christmas to call home, and remember that a stranger, who never knew him before, did something kind to show their gratitude for what he’s doing. And I hoped their mom, dad, sister or brother would also know that other people out here love their son as much as they did.

Thank you God, for showing me what I could do in that moment. Unfortunately I was so elated at the joy of it all, I forgot to take a picture of that handsome young bunch of American Soldiers. Oh, well… I can still see them in my heart, and if any of them by some strange coincidence should read this abroad, they will know that I had my true brush with greatness that day with them. It was truly the best Christmas present I ever received.

God bless our military, this country, and the President of these United States. Merry Christmas, everyone.