Allison called me the December before she left us to say she wanted to share some kindness with a HopeLink client in great need. I shared one particularly sad case and after we both cried a little on the phone, she was off and running. She shared her own Christmas Jar tradition with this family under the cover of night, placing it on the doorstep, ringing their bell, then running off. Apparently this has been her holiday habit for many years.

The next day, our client phoned us in tears saying someone had left her a $400 jar of coins on the porch which, coincidentally, was the past due amount on the family’s power bill. Allison’s secret gesture that evening just before Christmas kept the power on for that family and started them all back to church once again with a renewed belief there is indeed a God who provides.

Allison Copening, the secret’s out. You earned your angel wings well before you left this earth. Those of us who knew you aren’t the least bit surprised. Your years with us seasoned our holidays and everydays and will be remembered for a long, long time.