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I was nine years old and the depression was still in full force. We came from Alabama and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a little row home, which my father managed to rent. It was getting near Christmas and my dear dad had nothing to spend for Christmas for his five children ages 1 to 9. In desperation, he went to the bank to try to persuade them that he was a safe risk for a small loan. He explained his predicament, no job, no collateral, and 5 small children with Christmas approaching.
As he should have known, the banker would have to decline his request, but he had an alternative offer for my dad to consider. He explained that if dad could postpone celebrating Christmas a day or two, the children wouldn’t know it and everything would be reduced in the stores. Then he would only need half the amount he was requesting. He said if this was agreeable, he would approve the loan for a smaller amount.
Of course my dad gratefully accepted his offer. That Christmas eve, after we were all in bed, the downstairs front door sprung open. There was a lot of noise and my father rushed down the stairs to see what was happening. I followed a few minutes later and saw him sitting on that bottom step with his head in his hands. I couldn’t understand why he was weeping.
When I reached the bottom step, I could see no one in the hallway, but the hall was lined with boxes. There were boxes of food, clothing, and candy. There was a riding fire engine and a four-foot folding white paneled dollhouse. We didn’t belong to a church and the friends we had were as poor as we were. My dad returned to the bank to repay the loan. The banker surprised my dad by telling him that there was no record of this loan.
I only understood that Christmas experience years later when Jesus became my Lord and Savior. How blessed some of us are to see God’s love working in and through His children. John 3:16 is where this love story begins and those unknown servants were practicing I John 3:16. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, how He laid down His life for us: so that we ought to lay down our lives for others.”
Thanks for sharing this story. I am a pastor here in Alaska! Charlie was a tremendous influence in my life! I met him years ago in San Jose, CA. I will never forget that big hug he gave me! His book and tapes have blessed me more than words can express. Thanks for sharing and thanks for all you are still doing to honor his legacy. Merry Christmas
pastoradh
Thanks for this story! What a LIFE! Charlie is still touching lives today! I am so grateful for all he did to make such a difference in so many lives! Thank you for keeping his legacy alive! Tremendously Thankful,
Alan Humphries
Merry Christmas
My Most Blessed Christmas by Charlie Tremendous Jones « Tomtootallcunningham's Blog
[…] article is from the blog Tremendous Life Books Blog of Tracey Jones, daughter of Charlie Tremendous Jones. It is a great story and well worth […]
Chuck Blouse
Awwwww, :-) Thank you Tracey for such a wonderful way to end a day. How much less “need” there would be in this world if we could all just eliminate some of our “wants” for the sake of lessening the burdens of others.
Mike Sparrow
Great idea for presenting Blessed Christmas.
James E. Jordan
Tracey, Your father shared with me that your grandfather was a Freemason. I would be willing to wager that the banker was too!
Merry Christmas & thank you for a wonderful story!
Jim
traceyjones
Thanks Mike!
traceyjones
Hi James, he (Deacon) sure was. And I bet you’re right about the banker too:-) Thank you for reading and for your comments about Dad and his story!
traceyjones
Hi tremendous Chuck! You are so right. I just think about the many blessings we are capable of bestowing on others and how we end up more blessed than the receiver:-)
traceyjones
Pastor Alan, thank you so much for sharing your times with Dad and for all you do too!!! I am glad you got to experience a hug in person:-) Merry Christmas to you and yours.
traceyjones
Pastor Alan, you are most welcome! Thank you for taking the time to read this story and write me a note of encouragement:-)
Phil Taylor
Thank You Tracey for sharing this powerful,heartwarming Christmas story!…it’s right in there with “It’s a Wonderful Life!” (this account resonates very strongly in my heart and mind—makes one think)—thank you!
Wishing you and the entire Tremendous Jones family a most Blessed Christmas!!
traceyjones
You too Phil! And yes, it sure does remind me of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, one of my all time favorite movies:-)
Dan Markley
Thank you Tracey!!
What a wonderful reminder of God’s love demonstrated as a public display when Christ gave us His life in death for our sins and then in His resurrection gave us His life as our righteousness and justification. Thank you for your great example of letting Christ express Himself through you. May all of us Christ’ Ones allow Him to do the same in us and then through us.
Tremendously One In Christ,
Dan Markley
traceyjones
You are most welcome Dan! Thank you for the read and the comments you left. I love your closing, “Tremendously One in Christ”! Amen!
Bill Leachman
Tracey,
Thank you so much for sharing that awesome story. I never had the honor to meet your father, but if you are anything like him, I am sure he was an inspiration to many people.
Thanks again,
Bill Leachman
traceyjones
You are most welcome Bill. He really had an empathy for people and think alot of it stemmed from his humble start. Have a wonderful Christmas!
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17 comments
Alan Humphries
Thanks for sharing this story. I am a pastor here in Alaska! Charlie was a tremendous influence in my life! I met him years ago in San Jose, CA. I will never forget that big hug he gave me! His book and tapes have blessed me more than words can express. Thanks for sharing and thanks for all you are still doing to honor his legacy. Merry Christmas
pastoradh
Thanks for this story! What a LIFE! Charlie is still touching lives today! I am so grateful for all he did to make such a difference in so many lives! Thank you for keeping his legacy alive! Tremendously Thankful,
Alan Humphries
Merry Christmas
My Most Blessed Christmas by Charlie Tremendous Jones « Tomtootallcunningham's Blog
[…] article is from the blog Tremendous Life Books Blog of Tracey Jones, daughter of Charlie Tremendous Jones. It is a great story and well worth […]
Chuck Blouse
Awwwww, :-) Thank you Tracey for such a wonderful way to end a day. How much less “need” there would be in this world if we could all just eliminate some of our “wants” for the sake of lessening the burdens of others.
Mike Sparrow
Great idea for presenting Blessed Christmas.
James E. Jordan
Tracey, Your father shared with me that your grandfather was a Freemason. I would be willing to wager that the banker was too!
Merry Christmas & thank you for a wonderful story!
Jim
traceyjones
Thanks Mike!
traceyjones
Hi James, he (Deacon) sure was. And I bet you’re right about the banker too:-) Thank you for reading and for your comments about Dad and his story!
traceyjones
Hi tremendous Chuck! You are so right. I just think about the many blessings we are capable of bestowing on others and how we end up more blessed than the receiver:-)
traceyjones
Pastor Alan, thank you so much for sharing your times with Dad and for all you do too!!! I am glad you got to experience a hug in person:-) Merry Christmas to you and yours.
traceyjones
Pastor Alan, you are most welcome! Thank you for taking the time to read this story and write me a note of encouragement:-)
Phil Taylor
Thank You Tracey for sharing this powerful,heartwarming Christmas story!…it’s right in there with “It’s a Wonderful Life!” (this account resonates very strongly in my heart and mind—makes one think)—thank you!
Wishing you and the entire Tremendous Jones family a most Blessed Christmas!!
traceyjones
You too Phil! And yes, it sure does remind me of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, one of my all time favorite movies:-)
Dan Markley
Thank you Tracey!!
What a wonderful reminder of God’s love demonstrated as a public display when Christ gave us His life in death for our sins and then in His resurrection gave us His life as our righteousness and justification. Thank you for your great example of letting Christ express Himself through you. May all of us Christ’ Ones allow Him to do the same in us and then through us.
Tremendously One In Christ,
Dan Markley
traceyjones
You are most welcome Dan! Thank you for the read and the comments you left. I love your closing, “Tremendously One in Christ”! Amen!
Bill Leachman
Tracey,
Thank you so much for sharing that awesome story. I never had the honor to meet your father, but if you are anything like him, I am sure he was an inspiration to many people.
Thanks again,
Bill Leachman
traceyjones
You are most welcome Bill. He really had an empathy for people and think alot of it stemmed from his humble start. Have a wonderful Christmas!