The phrase had come to him on the plane, inside a fresh memory of his father leaving on Christmas Day to bring dinner to a single mom from their church. Cody remembered being so sad that his dad was leaving, but his father knelt down and explained, “This is how we show the world what real love looks like, Son. For some people, all they see is sadness and anger and negativity. If we can shine a little light in their lives, shouldn’t we do that?”

Cody nodded.

“You know I’m coming home as soon as I can. Those kids can’t say the same about their dad.”

“I know.” His father hugged him. When he stepped away, he tugged his coat off the hanger by the door and Cody stopped him.

“Dad? Can I come with you?”

His father glanced over at his mother, and something passed between them—something Cody didn’t recognize.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Dad finally said.

They drove in silence to an old house on the other side of town. They pulled containers of food from the trunk and walked up to the woman’s door, where they were met by four small children. The mom appeared in the back of the house, baby on her hip. She instantly burst into tears.

Cody could still smell the musty stench of the house. He could see the dust in the corners and the dirty dishes in the sink. The woman asked Cody and his father to join them for dinner, but they were careful not to eat too much of the food—they wanted the family to have leftovers. Cody felt awkward and out of place, even though one of the boys was right around the same age he was.

As they left, the woman thanked them through a stifled sob.

Cody ran to the car and grabbed the new remote-control truck he’d gotten for Christmas. It was the only thing he really cared about, and he hadn’t been a bit surprised to find it under the tree. He’d never doubted that he would.

He rushed back to the house and knocked on the door. The little boy, the one who was about his age, pulled it open, and Cody handed him the truck. “Merry Christmas.”

The boy’s eyes widened. “I get to keep it?”

Cody nodded. “It’s for you.”

His face lit up. “Cool! Thanks!”

Cody turned and saw his dad standing by the car, waiting for him. While he knew his dad was proud of him, it wasn’t his father’s approval that warmed him from the inside that day—it was the way the other boy’s happiness made him feel.