A Life-Changing Christmas
The year was 1980. Sheryl Rooth had just turned 12 and, despite her young age, she was experiencing a difficult time at home. She recalls fighting and painful memories that eventually ended with her parents’ divorce.
“I wasn’t unhappy they were getting divorced, but I wasn’t prepared for the fallout,” Sheryl shares.
A custody battle ensued and both of Sheryl’s parents faced their own personal struggles. Sheryl’s mom lost her job and was forced to sell their home.
With financial hardships looming, Sheryl understood the upcoming holiday season was not likely to be a joyful one.
“My parents did the best they could with the emotional tools they had, but I was the grown-up a lot of the time. I knew Christmas was going to be difficult.”
A Visit that Changed Everything
One snowy night, just a few days before Christmas, Sheryl’s doorbell rang. What happened next is something she will never forget.
“A tall man in a dark winter coat was standing right beneath our porch light. It was so bright I couldn’t see his face, but I could see a halo of light around his head. He was holding a large box. I slowly opened the door and he said, ‘Merry Christmas from The Salvation Army!’ with such exuberance that it knocked the wind out of my skeptical pre-teen attitude,” Sheryl remembers.
This was the first of many boxes that arrived from The Salvation Army, filled with food and Christmas gifts for Sheryl’s family.
This assistance was unexpected, but Sheryl’s maturity helped her understand what this support meant for the family.
“Growing up faster than most kids my age, I felt that sense of comfort in knowing that a Christmas dinner was going to happen and that there would be toys under the tree. But the real gift came in the sense of relief. The relief in realizing that when my little sister and brother went back to school, they could share their excitement with their friends about what Santa brought,” Sheryl adds.
Working with The Salvation Army
What happened that cold night decades ago, shaped Sheryl’s future. For the past 18 years, she has worked for The Salvation Army in London, Ont., initially in correctional and justice services and now as the community ministries manager.
In her current role, Sheryl is now on the other end of the assistance, helping many families experiencing difficulties to have a wonderful Christmas and providing basic support throughout the year.
“Some people who choose to work for The Salvation Army have a past and a calling. We listen and we troubleshoot their problems and we do it well because we can relate on some level,” Sheryl says.
The night Sheryl was introduced to The Salvation Army, her outlook on life changed. She realizes that no matter how tough things get, there is always someone willing to lend a hand.
“Despite whatever barrier is in the way to happiness or success, the core message is that we all just want to belong. To have our place in the crowd. To have our voices heard. To have our souls soothed, even for a short time. Belonging looks a little different to everyone. When you’re 12, sometimes it looks like a kind stranger from The Salvation Army on your porch on a snowy winter’s evening.”
By Juan Romero
