16-Year-Old Spends Her Entire Paycheck In 1 Day, Then Mom Learns The Heart Wrenching Truth
inspire by Kristin Danley 1/5/2017
It was Christmas Eve and 16-year-old Abby Meehan of Terre Haute, Indiana, was working a double-shift as a cashier at Baesler's Market, when two customers entered her checkout line. Abby made small talk with the mom and her young son, but what she learned made her heart break.
With Christmas the very next day, Abby politely asked the boy named Jacob, 10, what he wanted for Christmas while she rang up their groceries. He didn't want much, just some games. They chatted a bit more, then as the mother and son began to walk away, the mom, Cory Swetland, turned back to Abby and confessed something to the teenager.
For some families, Christmas just doesn't happen. There's barely enough money to put food on the table and keep the electricity on for heat. Jacob's mom quietly told Abby that they wouldn't be having Christmas the next day. Santa wouldn't be coming for Jacob or his three older brothers. Then she started to leave.
Abby's heart plummeted. There was no way this sweet kid who had been standing in the checkout line, chatting with her, was going without a Christmas. She instantly knew what she had to do--what she wanted to do. She wanted to help Jacob and his siblings and play Santa.
As the mom turned to leave, Abby reached out and gently grabbed her arm, quietly insisting on getting the woman's cell phone number. Reluctantly, and after much persistence by Abby, the mom shared her phone number.
As Abby wrapped up her work shift, all she could think about was Jacob. She couldn't wait to get off work and go shopping. She planned to splurge. She was going to spend her entire paycheck--on him.
She bought Jacob everything he had asked for for Christmas, which honestly wasn't much, as well as cookies and candy. When Abby's mom found out the truth, she couldn't help but get emotional as a result of her 16-year-old daughter's actions. Abby told Good Morning America he was very sweet and deserved those presents and more.
"It was meant to be that he came through my line, because I was going to do something about that. I had to."
In fact, when Abby delivered the gifts to Jacob's house, she said there were a lot of tears and hugs. It not only brightened Jacob's holiday and his brothers, but taught Abby a valuable lesson, as well, one she will never forget.
"Now they can be happy and I can appreciate what I get more, as well. If there is anything I've learned tonight, it's that it doesn't matter what you have or what you don't. It doesn't matter how many presents you have under the tree. What matters is showing the people you love how much you appreciate them. And knowing who you are and what you stand for. Everyone deserves to be happy on Christmas, but sometimes you gotta go outta your way to make things happen."
The day after Christmas, Cory, Jacob and his brothers met Abby and her parents back at the grocery store. Abby's mom, Mandy, bought more gifts and $200 in food for the family. It definitely was a Christmas they will remember for years to come.
Source: Good Morning America, Facebook/AbbyMeehan, Image Source: Good Morning America
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