The 13th Gift Quotes

“We're not falling apart; we're just chipped a little bit.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“one of the greatest gifts we all possess is the ability to give. Wealth isn’t a prerequisite; compassion and a kind heart are all you need. What better way to honor our loved ones, past and present, than to reach out and change a life for the better? And, the holidays are a perfect time to look outside of ourselves and be a true friend. A legacy of generosity can create memories that reverberate beyond the moment and outshine the brightest of heirloom ornaments.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“power of their gifts lies in the understanding that joy and sorrow can coexist comfortably and without guilt.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“While I can’t imagine myself remarried, I do hope I have the courage to step up and share what I have learned with others in need.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“I have spent the months since Rick’s death inside a bubble of grief and fear. But in these last eleven days, as I venture outside that protective cocoon, I have met such a hodgepodge of wonderful people: Goodwill Charles, the soldier at Ponderosa, Neal’s wife with the poinsettias, and now the MasterCard lady—every one of them teachers on this new journey I am traveling. They are experts in the art of moving on, forgiving mistakes, and celebrating memories even if they hurt. I still have so much to learn.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“Our true friends gave us kindness, unsolicited, but desperately needed. Their gifts were a sign that even our shattered home could be put back together—with community, with family, and with love. They had given us back Christmas, and each other. Our true friends had broken the hold grief had on us and gave us an extraordinary experience during a holiday season that otherwise would have been bleak. They had given us our own Christmas legend, as Nick had called it, a modern-day miracle. That’s a lot to accomplish in twelve days. Was this precious lesson the twelfth gift?”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“I couldn’t help but wonder if their joy in life had been rooted in their good deeds. Recognition for their actions had never been part of their mind-set. Call it giving back or paying it forward, they had taken the kindness shown to them by others as a challenge to live a worthy life.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“The power of their gifts lies in the understanding that joy and sorrow can coexist comfortably and without guilt.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“We were friends after all, even before we met. I had always imagined them as superheroes. Learning they, too, had been vulnerable only strengthens that image of them in my mind.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“But even in moments of deepest grief, we can turn off self-survival mode and share with others all that we’ve learned along the way.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“The premise was always to take away the pain. We hoped the mystery would provide some relief, especially if there were children involved.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“Their compassion for us had grown from a deep knowledge of the sweetness and sorrow of the season, when joy and grief intertwine.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“People so full of kindness, without cause, must be worth knowing. And feeding.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“One of the greatest gifts we all possess is the ability to give. Wealth isn't a prerequisite; compassion and a kind heart are all you need”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“I tell them one of the greatest gifts we all possess is the ability to give. Wealth isn’t a prerequisite; compassion and a kind heart are all you need. What better way to honor our loved ones, past and present, than to reach out and change a life for the better? And, the holidays are a perfect time to look outside of ourselves and be a true friend. A legacy of generosity can create memories that reverberate beyond the moment and outshine the brightest of heirloom ornaments.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“I tell them one of the greatest gifts we all possess is the ability to give.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the Twelfth Day of Christmas Your true friends give to you … Twelve Brass Bells Eleven Christmas Mice Ten Dancing Santas Nine Candles Eight Cookie Cutters Seven Golden Apples Six Holiday Cups Five Angel Note Cards Four Gift Boxes Three Rolls of Gift Wrap Two Bags of Bows And One Poinsettia For All Of You.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the eleventh day of Christmas your true friends give to you … Eleven hungry mice Ten dancing Santas Nine candles Eight cookie cutters Seven golden apples Six holiday cups Five angel gift cards Four gift boxes Three rolls of gift wrap Two bags of bows and, One poinsettia for all of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the tenth day of Christmas your true friends give to you: Ten dancing Santas Nine Christmas candles Eight cookie cutters Seven golden apples Six holiday cups Five angel gift cards Four gift boxes Three rolls of gift wrap Two bags of bows and A poinsettia for all of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the eigth day of Christmas … your true friends give to you, 8 cookie cutters 7 golden apples 6 holiday cups 5 angel note cards 4 gift boxes 3 rolls of gift wrap 2 bags of bows and … 1 Pointsettia for all of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“How do you thank someone for supporting your children through the worst Christmas of their lives? Eight days ago the world looked different. I thought we were alone. Today, I know true friends surround us. The kindness shown to our family humbles me. I drop spare change in the Salvation Army kettle every Christmas, but I’ve never really gone out of my way to help anyone. I’m not a bad person; I just never thought about what it means to be good. Is it really giving if it comes easy? I don’t think so anymore.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the Seventh Day of Christmas Your true friends give to you … Seven golden apples Six holiday cups Five angeled note cards Four gift boxes Three rolls of gift wrap Two bags of bows and One poinsettia For all of you”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“12-17-99 On the fifth day of Christmas … your true friends give to you … 5 angel note cards 4 gift boxes 3 rolls of gift wrap 2 bags of bows & 1 poinsettia … for all of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“n the Fourth Day f Christmas our true friends give to you our Gift Boxes hree Rolls of Gift Wrap wo Bags of Bows ne Poinsettia our All of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the third day of Christmas Your true friends give to you, three rolls of gift wrap for all of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“On the first day of Christmas your true friends give to you, one Poinsettia for all of you.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“Help comes in all kinds of packages, Jo. Don’t worry about who delivers it. Just accept.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

“Non stiamo andando in pezzi, siamo solo un po' scheggiati.”
― Joanne Huist Smith, The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle