An old, lonely woman named Emma started getting daily deliveries from someone she didn’t know. She had no children with her late husband, so she had no idea who was sending them.
Emma’s husband, John, passed away seven years ago, leaving her heartbroken. Since she had no family to care for her, she had to manage everything on her own. Whenever people asked why she and John never had children, she would simply shrug and avoid the question.
One day, while Emma was sitting in her bedroom watching TV, she heard the doorbell ring. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but she decided to check who it was.
When she opened the door, a delivery man in his 40s was standing there with several boxes. He was wearing a mask, so she couldn’t see his face clearly.
“Hello, I wasn’t expecting any packages. Do you know who sent these?” Emma asked.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but these were sent anonymously. Don’t worry, our security checked them, and they’re completely safe. These are for you,” the man said, placing the boxes on the table near the door.
“That’s strange… but thank you, dear,” Emma replied before closing the door.
Curious, she quickly opened the boxes after the delivery man left. In the first box, she found small kitchen appliances, including a new toaster oven, a sandwich press, and a coffee maker.
“Who could be sending me all these gifts?” Emma wondered. She opened the second box and found beautiful clothes and groceries inside.
From that day on, Emma received packages every day. The same delivery man always brought them, so she decided to get to know him.
“What’s your name, dear?” she asked.
“I’m Ted Harrison,” he replied with a smile. “Mrs. Richards, the sender asked me to give you this. I’ll wait while you read it.” He handed her an envelope.
Curious, Emma quickly opened it and read the note inside:
“Mrs. Richards, please tell me what you need, and I will provide it for you.”
“Oh my! I’m so eager to find out who has been sending me all these gifts. Now they even want me to make requests!” she exclaimed.
Ted smiled and said, “I’m sure this person cares for you very much, even if you don’t know who they are.”
Emma agreed to write down what she needed but kept it simple, only asking for essentials so the sender wouldn’t spend too much on her.
After that brief but kind exchange, Emma started preparing small snacks for Ted, the delivery man. For a whole month, he brought her packages filled with clothes, food, books, and other thoughtful gifts. Over time, Emma grew fond of Ted’s visits. He would stay to share snacks with her and even help with chores she struggled to do on her own.
But one day, Ted didn’t show up. Worried, Emma decided to visit the local post office to look for him.
“Hello, could you call Ted Harrison? I brought some donuts for him,” she asked the receptionist.
The young woman looked puzzled. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we don’t have anyone named Ted Harrison working here,” she replied.
Emma was shocked. “Oh… but he’s been delivering my packages every day. That’s strange,” she said, feeling disappointed. She had no idea where to find Ted, and it saddened her.
Emma walked home, her mind racing with questions. Who could this kind person be? Did I go to the wrong post office? Was Ted really a delivery man, or was he pretending?
As she reached her front porch, she was surprised to find a small box by the door. Inside, there was a key and a note. She opened it and began to read:
“I discovered the truth just a month ago after hiring a private investigator to learn where I came from. I know you feel guilty and regret what happened, but I want you to know that I don’t blame you. I understand that you did what you thought was best for me.
You and your husband couldn’t afford to raise me, so you gave me up for adoption. I was taken in by a wealthy family who loved me as their own, but deep down, something always felt missing. I now realize that missing piece was you, Mom.
I want you in my life, and I would love to spend time with you. If you’re willing, I recently bought a new house and had a key made just for you. If you ever want to, you can move in with me. Please, let me take care of you.
With love, your delivery man, Ted.”
Emma trembled as she finished reading the letter. She had always dreamed of seeing her son before she passed away, and now he had found her. And that son was Ted! Overwhelmed with emotions, she burst into tears, feeling all the guilt from her past resurface.
Everything Ted had learned was true. When Emma and John discovered she was pregnant, they were struggling financially and on the brink of bankruptcy. They knew they couldn’t provide a good life for their child, so they made the painful decision to put him up for adoption.
When their son was just a few months old, they left him at an orphanage along with a letter explaining why they couldn’t raise him. The letter was anonymous, but years later, Ted managed to convince the orphanage directors to share the details of his adoption papers. That’s how he found Emma’s name.
Eager to see her son, Emma quickly got ready to leave her house. But before she could step outside, there was a knock at the door. When she opened it, there stood Ted.
“Hi, Mom,” Ted said gently.
Emma’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t believe it. My son,” she sobbed, pulling him into a tight hug and refusing to let go. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I truly am. I hope you can forgive me.”
“You don’t need to apologize, Mom,” Ted reassured her. “I’m here because I want to spend time with you. It’s not too late to start over. We can still be a family.”
That night, they packed Emma’s belongings into boxes. A truck waited outside to move her things to Ted’s house.
When they arrived, Emma was surprised to meet Ted’s wife and children. They were just as happy as Ted to welcome her into their home. From that moment on, Emma was never alone again.
What can we learn from this story?
The past doesn’t have to define the future. Emma thought she had lost her son forever, but he chose to search for the truth and found his way back to her. They reunited and built a new life together.
Forgiveness is powerful. Instead of holding resentment, Ted chose to forgive his biological mother and welcome her into his life.
Share this story with your loved ones—it might inspire them and brighten their day!