(Several years ago, I wrote and shared this little story on Facebook. I love it enough to share it with the rest of the universe through this blog.)

This morning I was blowing my nose, dealing with bronchitis when I thought about her…

The first Noel I met in my life was when we were living in Lathrop, California and I was in the 4th grade.

Noel was a tall, pretty girl with blonde hair that came down to her shoulders and I remember thinking that I thought her name was sort of strange.

I don’t know if she spelled it, Noel or Noelle but Noel is Noelle is, Noel!

We weren’t best friends, but I considered her my friend.

It was around Christmas time, and I was involved in a after school program that was held at a small community center.

We were going to put on a Christmas play there but first we would be performing it at an orphanage.

I was changing out of my angel costume in the small restroom when there was a knock on the door.

I opened it slightly and there was Noel!

She stuck her head through the door and told me that she just wanted to say hi.

I was stunned.

I never noticed her in the audience. I guess my tunnel vision goes way back.

She told me that she was living there, and I stayed stunned.

We smiled at each other and said quick goodbyes but as soon as the door closed, I freaked out and began to question and cry on the inside.

To a 9-year-old, an orphanage was a bad place and Noel wasn’t bad.

Noel was always smiling; she was always friendly.

I never did see Noel again…

Earlier today, I said a prayer for Noel, and I knew that I would be writing this post.

Perhaps there is something we can learn from her story.

Perhaps it’s perspective.

Think you have it bad this time of the year?

Think of Noel, 4th grader in an orphanage, this time of the year…

I gather my thoughts for this post in my head and I pick up a Christmas card that Shawn had already opened from Sis. Martin from church and I read it for the first time.

There at the very top in red it says, NOEL.

~missy salcido wead