a beautiful story...

I’m not sure where to start in terms of this year’s light show. The response has been absolutely phenomenal. On average, we get about 500 cars a night, and while directing traffic every night in the cold (and one grumpy neighbor) has taken its toll on me, I can only remain focused on how blessed I am by all of you who have stopped by and shared your joy and thanks with me. I could go on and on with so many wonderful stories about all the wonderful people I have met outside, but I would like to share a special story with all of you about a family that walked up to see the show last week. I can only hope it will touch your hearts the same way it did mine.

While I was back by the curb directing traffic, I noticed that a family was standing beside the lights in a dangerous spot where traffic normally exits, so I approached the family and asked if they could move back by the cars. They were kind and said that their daughter (who was confined to a wheelchair) needed to be close to the light. They were hoping the lights would stimulate her enough to get her to move. According to the mother, she hadn’t moved her legs in three years.

At that point, I told them the best spot to move was over by the snow machine, where they could get a great view of the lights and feel the snow shooting out. With traffic backing up, I returned to my station and began moving people along. A few minutes later, at the end of the show, all the lights blared on and the snow shot into the sky, and when I just happened to glance over at the young girl, I saw both of her legs kicking up and down. The mother and another family member were pointing. The cars kept coming, and I had to keep them moving for fear of having the police shut me down. I wanted to go and talk to the family, but just as traffic cleared, they were gone.

It was like a scene that just happened within a few moments, and I was filled with so much emotion, wondering whether or not to believe what just transpired was actually real. It was at that moment that I contemplated my own life, my own blessings, my wife and my children, and thanked the Lord for first giving me this gift of lights, and second, for allowing me to share it with others.

Approximate Visitors to Date: 5,000 cars