One particular year, not too many years ago, Santa Claus came to a company office party and with the help of Miss Claus children sat on Santa’s lap to receive a gift.One particular little angel said, in her mousiest voice, to Miss Claus, as she was too embarrassed to talk to Santa: “Will Santa come to our house too?”This was not the voice of a child seeking more presents, but the sound of a child who stilled believed in Santa, but was told by her mother that Christmas would not happen this year.
Miss Claus heard through the grapevine that this particular child was one of five to a mother who had a heart of gold, but men of coal.Married three times and children by all three husbands, all five children lived in a rented 3 bedroom home along with their mother and her sister.
Miss Claus relayed this story to Santa the next day, along with some other details of this mother and her dismay; in fact the mother had broken down in tears when hearing of the office Christmas party and that management was buying gifts for all the children … since these would be the only gifts her children would receive this year.After many tears Santa decided to make a special trip with Miss Claus to the mall … On Mercedes, On Jaguar, Out Visa and MasterCard and little AMEX too.Santa and Miss Claus purchased presents for all the children, five each, and two for Mom and sister too; there were jeans and sweaters and jackets and shirts and necklaces and toys and a PlayStation too.
Some elves helped Santa and Miss Claus wrapped all the presents and stuffed them in clear plastic sacks, those industrial strength garbage bags that are five feet tall, so all the ribbons and bows and name tags would show.With a ruse from a friend, Santa and Miss Claus arranged for Mom to be home one evening a week before Christmas.So on drove Santa in the sleigh to make an early delivery of the three giant sacks stuffed with presents.
Santa knocked on the door and exclaimed; “Too many presents to deliver on Christmas Day!”And with a flick of his wrist and a heave from his back Santa set down those big heavy sacks … “Now don’t open these till Christmas.” he said to those in shock, and he left with a whirl and a knock.
Several weeks later a card was hand delivered to Miss Claus in which each child wrote a short note … but the message from Mom was the one to remember; “Thank you for delivering us “HOPE” that humanity still exists.”
If you have not guessed I was “Santa” … I am often asked what I hate most about being unemployed this long after earning my MBA, … and it is that I cannot play Santa to a family who has lost “Hope”.
I would suggest that each of us knows a family who has had hard times and is too proud to ask for help … I would also suggest that playing “anonymous” Santa has a profound effect on not just their lives but yours too.
Please share this story and share your good fortune this year.
