Christmas angels
Brooke and Travis Barron of Coeur d’Alene react with pleasant surprise Thursday evening in the Hayden Walmart as they open a Christmas card with $250 from The Altar Church pastors Tim Remington and John Padula. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
HAYDEN — A family of six was doing a little shopping in the Hayden Walmart on Thursday evening when two other shoppers began to casually chat with them.
The mom and dad, Brooke and Travis Barron of Coeur d'Alene, politely visited with the two men as their kids, ages 7 and younger, entertained themselves with the contents of the cart. Their 18-month-old angelically looked up at the men and smiled, like she knew they were up to something.
Pastors Tim Remington and John Padula of The Altar Church wished the Barron family a merry Christmas and handed them a card.
They opened it right there, not knowing they were about to receive a Christmas gift of $250.
"I wasn't expecting that, that's for sure," Travis said with a laugh.
"I wasn't either," Brooke said. "I think that's really generous. I mean, a lot of families around this time can use it."
"With four kids, I mean, both of us work," Travis said. "She doesn't work as much so we can save on daycare costs and everything, so every little bit helps out at this point."
Padula and Remington quietly gifted a total of $1,000 (financed by the Altar) to four unsuspecting families, stopping to pray with them, inquire about their Christmas hardships and bless those who God called them to bless.
"I love doing this. I've been waiting to get back out," said Remington, who is still dealing with physical challenges after surviving being shot six times in 2016.
"It's my love, it's my passion," he said about spreading goodwill in the community. "It's what most of our church does."
Padula, who disguised himself as a homeless man and gave out cards of money just before Christmas last year, said it's "the love of God that provokes people to give."
"He gave his only begotten son so we could have everlasting life, and I think as Christians, that's what we need to do, we need to live in a life that's about giving," Padula said. "It's just a blessing."
This Christmas, Padula said it's good to remember what the season is really all about.
"Make sure to keep Jesus first and not make it about the gifts or all of the other stuff," he said. "Make sure that Christ is the center of all of it."