Christmas joy

After attending services the Saturday before Christmas at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Brooksville, my wife, granddaughter and I stopped at the Brooksville Publix to buy some groceries.

I waited in the car because it was going to be a quick stop.

A few minutes later Dallas, my granddaughter, and my wife, Millie, came out with a situation to discuss with me.

Dallas had found a $20 bill on the floor and nobody was near at the time. They came out to discuss it as a family.

Dallas wanted to put it in the Salvation Army kettle in front of the store.

I believed that would be the best solution after thinking about how hard it would be to find the person who lost it.

Dallas could have kept it and said she was lucky, but she said it did not belong to her and thought it would be fitting to give it to charity.

My heart swelled just like the Grinch's that Christmas morning he saw the light.

Her pastor, Father Marley, her tae kwon do instructor, Master Palmer, and her teachers at Pine Grove Elementary should be as proud of her as Millie and I.

Dallas is 9 and I'd bet her mommy is telling everyone in heaven that that's her girl.

It made my Christmas and then some.

Philip Strmensky

Brooksville