My great Christmas story

December 20, 2017
by Philip F. Jacobus, CEO
This past weekend after dropping my wife off at her mother's house, I was headed back to New York City to go to work.

I stopped into a big box store to buy some supplies for my loft apartment. In front of me in line, was a middle aged man and in front of him, was a young couple.

As the young couple was checking out, their son came up with a toy and said, "Mommy and Daddy, I really want this. Please buy it for me. Please, please."

The husband looked at the wife and the wife said, "I'm sorry, son, but we cannot afford that."

The young boy did not pout or stomp his feet or complain.

Instead, he said, "That's alright mommy, I understand."

The fellow in front of me witnessing this, looked over his shoulder at me and nodded at me, and I nodded back so he asked the boy, "How much did the toy cost? Because my friend and I here...,"

And he pointed to me, a perfect stranger, "...We would like to pay for it."

The proud father said, "No, no, that's not necessary. We do not need charity." (Even though, they did not appear to be all that affluent).

At which point, my new middle aged friend said, "My son died this year and he was about your son's age. And it would give me great pleasure to give your son this Christmas present."

At that point, there was no going back. The young boy said, "Thank you, thank you" and shook both of our hands and the woman at the cash register started crying.

It made me feel great, and while I will never see that guy again or for that matter, that young family, I think I will remember them for many years to come.

If you celebrate Christmas, all of us at DOTmed wish you a very Merry Christmas.