Girl shows the spirit of giving (something wonderful to read today)

[The Straight Story]

Girl shows the spirit of giving

The Californian featured the Durans in Share the Season, the newspaper's annual effort to help several families in need. Along with the story Miranda read, the paper published the family's Christmas "wish list."

Mariah knew her mom had already bought her some Christmas presents. She said she wanted to return her presents and use the money to buy gifts for the Durans.

"I felt sad for the family 'cause they weren't going to have a Christmas," Mariah said Wednesday from the living room of her grandparents' southwest Bakersfield home.

She was especially moved that Jesus Duran didn't ask for anything for himself. His concern was his children.

"Whatever they wish for, I wish for," he said in the story.

With permission from her mom, Tanya Miranda, Mariah returned a Cabbage Patch doll, three Bratz dolls, an outfit from her grandma and an iDogthat moves to music. "That's something she's been wanting for a while," her mom said later.

Asked if it was hard returning her gifts, Mariah said "not really."

In all, she got about $100 when she returned everything.

With the Durans' wish list in hand, Mariah went shopping over two days.

http://www.bakersfield.com/435/story/89500.html

[lancdem]

1. This brought tears to my eyes

Thank you so much for posting it.

[tblue37]

6. Me, too. (eom)

[Suziq]

2. What a Nice Story

What a great kid! :applause:

[OneBlueSky]

3. kicked/recommended . . . for a child who knows what Christmas really means . . . n/t

.

[mondo obscurius]

4. Hope for the future is alive here n/t

[CrispyQ]

5. What an absolutely lovely young girl!!

Inside & out!

Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story.

k&r

[mirandapriestly]

7. What an adorable, wonderful girl

My kids would never do something like this, maybe if I show them the article....