Emma Richards was a poor, lonely old woman who had been living all by herself for seven long years. Her husband John had passed away, and since they never had children—or so everyone thought—she had no one left to care for her. Every day felt the same: quiet, heavy, and filled with memories she couldn’t share with anyone.
But then something strange started happening. Packages began arriving at her doorstep—every single day.
It began on a quiet afternoon. Emma was sitting on her bed, watching television, when the doorbell rang. She froze for a moment. Visitors were rare, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. Slowly, she got up and shuffled to the door.
When she opened it, a man in his 40s stood there, carrying several large boxes. He wore a mask, so she couldn’t see his face clearly.
“Hello,” Emma said cautiously. “I’m not expecting a package from anybody. May I know who this is from?”
The man gave a polite bow of his head. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but these packages were sent anonymously. Rest assured, our security checked them. They’re safe. These are for you.” He carefully placed the boxes on the table beside her door.
Emma tilted her head, confused. “That’s strange… thank you, sweet boy,” she said softly before closing the door.
As soon as he left, her curiosity got the better of her. She tore open the first box—and her eyes widened. Inside were small appliances: a shiny oven toaster, a sandwich press, and a brand-new coffee maker.
“Who would give me all of these?” she whispered, her hands trembling.
She opened the second box and gasped again. Inside were beautiful clothes and bags of groceries—more than she could ever afford.
From that day on, the deliveries didn’t stop. Each morning, the same masked man appeared, always carrying boxes filled with useful things: food, clothes, even books. Emma started looking forward to his visits.
Finally, one morning, she asked, “What is your name, sweet boy?”
The man smiled beneath his mask. “My name is Ted Harrison,” he said warmly. Then he handed her an envelope. “Mrs. Richards, the sender requested for us to give you this. I’ll wait until you finish reading it.”
Emma’s fingers shook as she opened the letter. It read:
Mrs. Richards, please let me know what you need for yourself, and I will grant them.
Her jaw dropped. “Oh, I am dying to know who has been giving me all of these! Now that person even wants me to make requests!” she exclaimed.
Ted smiled kindly. “I’m sure the sender loves you very dearly, even though you don’t know who it is.”
Touched, Emma sat down that evening and wrote a simple list—just necessities. She didn’t want the mystery giver to waste money on luxuries.
After that day, things changed. Every time Ted arrived, Emma invited him inside. She would prepare tea, sandwiches, or cookies, and they would chat as he delivered the parcels.
Over the next month, Ted grew closer to her. He fixed her broken chair, helped change a lightbulb, and even sat with her while she told stories about her younger days. Emma began to feel less lonely, as if she finally had a friend.
But then one day, Ted didn’t come.
Emma waited by the window, anxious. By evening, she couldn’t stand it anymore. The next morning, she went to the local post office.
“Hello,” she said to the young woman at the reception desk. “Could you please page Ted Harrison? I have some donuts I wanted to give him.”
The woman frowned in confusion. “I’m sorry, ma’am. There’s nobody named Ted Harrison who works here.”
Emma’s heart dropped. “Oh… but he has been delivering my packages every day. That’s strange.”
She left the post office, her mind spinning. Who is Ted? Was he lying? Was he even a delivery man at all?
When she returned home, her questions only deepened. Sitting on her porch was a tiny box. Inside, she found a single key and a folded note.
With trembling hands, Emma opened it.
I learned the truth just a month ago when I decided to hire a private investigator to find out where I came from. I know you blame yourself and regret what you did. But I want you to know that I don’t blame you. I know you only had my best interest at heart.
You and your husband couldn’t feed me, so you gave me up for adoption. I ended up in a wealthy family that treated me well, but something always felt missing. That something was you, Mom.
You’ve been missing from my life, and I want to change that. I recently bought a new house. Here’s a key—I want you to live with me. Please, allow me to take care of you. With love, your delivery man, Ted.
Emma’s knees buckled as tears streamed down her face. Her hands shook so badly she almost dropped the note. “My son,” she whispered. “All this time… it was him.”
It was true. Years ago, when Emma and John were drowning in debt, they made the heartbreaking choice to give up their baby boy. They believed he deserved a better life than they could provide. Emma had left a letter with the orphanage, explaining—but she never knew if he’d ever read it.
Now here he was. Her Ted.
Before she could even plan to go find him, there was a knock at her door. Heart pounding, she opened it—and there he stood.
“Hi, Mom,” Ted said softly, his eyes shining.
Emma burst into tears. “I can’t believe it. My son!” she cried, pulling him into her arms and refusing to let go. “I am so sorry, sweetheart. I truly am. I wish you can forgive me.”
Ted hugged her tightly. “You don’t need to apologize, Mom. I’m here because I want to spend more time with you. It’s not too late to start over. We can still be a family.”
That very night, they packed up Emma’s things together. A moving truck was waiting outside, ready to take her to her new home.
When they arrived, Emma’s heart nearly burst. Ted’s wife and children greeted her warmly, wrapping her in hugs. They were thrilled to finally meet her and welcomed her into their lives without hesitation.
From that day on, Emma was never lonely again. She had a family, a son who forgave her, and grandchildren who adored her.
🌟 What we can learn from Emma and Ted’s story:
- The past doesn’t have to define the future. Emma thought she had lost her son forever, but Ted’s search brought them together again.
- Forgiveness is powerful. Instead of holding onto anger, Ted chose love. And that choice gave both of them the chance to build a new life together.