Boy Returns Christmas Presents To Help Pay For Funeral
December 21, 2015
The Spirit Of Christmas
Most children are counting down to Christmas morning, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to tear into the presents waiting for them under the tree. But not Joseph Martin. This 11-year-old boy has decided to return all of his presents rather than open them. And the reason why completely restored my faith in the next generation! [caption id="attachment_21869" align="aligncenter" width="699"] Credit: WKRC News[/caption] Katrina Luck, best friend to Joseph’s grandmother, suffered a massive heart attack on Thanksgiving and has been on life support ever since. The doctors are unable to do any more for the woman, and so they plan to remove her from life support in the next couple of days. Because Katrina did not have life insurance, a fundraising page was set up to help the family pay for her funeral."She was always a very happy person. Very outgoing. She was a very smart woman and she was a very loving mother," Kim (Joseph’s grandmother) says about her best friend.[rsnippet id="3" name="Article-Ad"] Joseph decided he wanted to help. And so, he and his grandmother took many of the gifts that waited for him under the tree and returned them. [caption id="attachment_21870" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Credit: WKRC News[/caption] He received a total of $95 back, which he gladly turned over to Katrina’s family. And the boy’s family couldn’t be more pleased.
“I'm just proud of him. I am really touched by it. But he also wanted to let kids know that Christmas is not all about receiving. Christmas is also about giving," says his grandmother, Kim.In fact, Joseph’s generosity was so touching, it inspired his grandmother to follow suit. She returned an expensive Coach purse her daughter had given her and donated the money to her best friend’s funeral. The selfless act had a profound impact on Katrina’s family during this difficult time. Katrina’s daughter says,
“It was touching to me. It was something nice to do. Because he is 11. He's a child. You'll never know if some kids would have did that.”[rsnippet id="2" name="ArticleAd-300x250-3"] But Joseph knows that it’s truly better to give than to receive. He says,
“...I wanted to help my grandma out and she's one of my friends.”Since Joseph’s story hit the news, the fundraising page for Katrina’s funeral has reached the $3,000 goal. [caption id="attachment_21871" align="aligncenter" width="721"] Credit: GoFundMe[/caption] And folks who have also been touched by Joseph’s kindness have been submitting requests to send the boy Christmas presents. But according to an update on the page, the humble young man insists that no presents be sent his way, but that donations be made to the grieving family instead. What a beautiful reminder of the Spirit of Christmas! May God bless this kind boy, and may He also bring comfort and peace to Katrina’s family.
Be inspired by another little boy who’s praying for a Christmas miracle for a family he doesn’t even know!
h/t: WKRC NewsFor some good Christmas chills, check out this incredible a cappella version of ‘Mary Did You Know!’
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.