{"id":17402,"date":"2026-03-10T14:15:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/how-a-simple-gift-restored-her-christmas-spirit\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T06:03:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:03:36","slug":"how-a-simple-gift-restored-her-christmas-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/inspiring-stories\/stories-of-faith-and-hope\/how-a-simple-gift-restored-her-christmas-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"How A Simple Gift Restored Her Christmas Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

I drove through downtown Athens, Georgia, searching for a parking place near the courthouse. I tried not to look at all the holiday decorations, the people hurrying by with their gifts. Christmas wasn\u2019t happening this year. Not for me.<\/p>\n

I was picking up my son Jeremy from his class at the courthouse. We spotted each other at the same time. I pulled over and he hopped in. He looked nice. White crewneck sweater over a red shirt and pressed khakis. Clean-shaven, fresh haircut. He was trying really hard, I could tell.<\/p>\n

Jeremy was charming and funny, responsible and kind. But he\u2019d stopped taking his medication for bipolar disorder<\/a> a few months earlier. When he goes off his meds, he becomes a completely different person. Manic. Reckless. Getting high. He\u2019d had three wrecks in three days. He was in his late forties. It wasn\u2019t the first time he\u2019d relapsed and gotten arrested.<\/p>\n

He was charged with reckless driving. This time, instead of a regular trial and jail, he went into the Treatment and Accountability Court (TAC) program for people with mental illness. The judge ordered him to wear an ankle monitor and confined him to house arrest. Jeremy was only allowed out for work, church, life skills classes every Wednesday at the courthouse, addiction counseling and treatment.<\/p>\n

And the Christmas party we were headed to, at the community center. Jeremy was required to attend, along with the others in TAC. He was clean, back on his meds and doing well in the program. I wanted to show my support.<\/p>\n

His driver\u2019s license had been revoked. Sometimes his friends would drive him to his appointments and classes, but mostly my husband, Gene, and I did. Gene and I were in our eighties and both of us struggled with chronic pain<\/a>. We depended on Jeremy for a lot. Now he wasn\u2019t even allowed to come to our house. He wouldn\u2019t be able to put up our tree. For the first time ever, I didn\u2019t plan on having a tree at all. I just didn\u2019t have the energy for Christmas. Physically. Or spiritually.<\/p>\n

The community center smelled of fried chicken, collard greens and corn bread. Jeremy led me over to a distinguished-looking gentleman in a dark suit. \u201cMom, this is Judge David Sweat, who directs TAC. Judge Sweat, this is my mother, Marion.\u201d<\/p>\n

I was deeply grateful that Jeremy had been given a second chance through the program, and I told the judge how I felt. We talked for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

Jeremy said, \u201cMom, meet Vincent. He can draw really well. Even has a scholarship to art school, when he finishes TAC.\u201d I shook the hand Vincent stuck out.<\/p>\n

Then Jeremy and I moved through the food line and sat down in folding chairs at a long table. I set my purse on the floor. Vincent stood hesitantly with his tray. \u201cSit with us,\u201d Jeremy said, pulling out a chair.<\/p>\n

Vincent\u2019s thin face showed years of hard living. Tattoos covered his neck, arms and hands. He leaned toward me, obviously wanting to talk. I concentrated on my chicken, even though I wasn\u2019t hungry.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should see some of his drawings, Mom. He\u2019s a great artist.\u201d Vincent beamed. I let Jeremy keep the conversation going.<\/p>\n

We started on the banana pudding. Vincent pulled a small rolled-up book with no cover from his back pocket and laid it open on the table. Then he plucked a pencil from his shirt pocket, bent over the book and began underlining busily.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom,\u201d Jeremy whispered, nudging me, \u201che wants you to notice.\u201d<\/p>\n

I made myself ask, \u201cWhatcha reading?\u201d Not that I was all that interested.<\/p>\n

Vincent put down his pencil and slid the book across the table.<\/p>\n

I picked it up, scanned a page. The topic and tone were dark. \u201cThis isn\u2019t good reading,\u201d I said. I felt Jeremy\u2019s eyes on me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t read regular books,\u201d Vincent said. \u201cI need glasses. I found this one. It\u2019s large print, you see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMom probably has an extra pair.\u201d Jeremy lifted my huge, messy purse off the floor. I fished around and pulled out a pair of drugstore reading glasses. I slid them across the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry \u2019em,\u201d Jeremy said. Vincent put the glasses on. He grinned, revealing missing teeth. Then he took the glasses off.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019re for you. Keep them,\u201d I said before Jeremy could.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mrs. West.\u201d Vincent looked at his pencil on the table and pushed it slowly toward me.<\/p>\n

I sat frozen. \u201cHe wants you to have it, Mom,\u201d Jeremy whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Vincent,\u201d I said. I picked up the pencil and studied it as if I\u2019d never seen one before. It was shiny black, with a green and yellow metal band attaching the eraser.<\/p>\n

I looked up at Vincent\u2014a rough, hurting man. But when my gaze settled on his eyes, I saw a soft glow in them, like the light of the world making its way through a crack in a dilapidated barn.<\/p>\n

And making its way into my heart again. \u201cVincent,\u201d I told him, \u201cI\u2019m going to make sure Jeremy brings you a better book when y\u2019all meet on Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d he asked. I nodded.<\/p>\n

The party was over. Vincent and I hugged each other good-bye. \u201cMerry Christmas, Mrs. West.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas, Vincent. So good to have met you.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the car, Jeremy asked, \u201cAre you going to give him your latest book about prayer<\/a>?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. And I\u2019m going to wrap it as beautifully as I can, in red, with a big bow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for coming with me, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for inviting me. It was just the celebration I needed.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I drove through downtown Athens, Georgia, searching for a parking place near the courthouse. I tried not to look at all the holiday decorations, the people hurrying by with their gifts. Christmas wasn\u2019t happening this year. Not for me. I was picking up my son Jeremy from his class at the courthouse. 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