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knows the secret to being a WINNING friend!!
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 104
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Christmas Miracle
As most of you know, finances are a little tight in our house this
year, with my husband losing his job in August, and only being able to secure a job that pays minimum wage. So James and I decided that we would focus on trying to make Christmas exciting for Hayden this year, even still it was going to be
very, very simple; which was a hard prospect for both of us because we
both love to give presents(and secretly, receive them). We have been
trying to focus on what we have and not what we don't, but somedays,
it is harder than others, especially for James because he works in a
mall and he is surrounded by Christmas shoppers.
The other day I was talking to my friend Sabrina and she was asking me
about our plans for Christmas. I kind of expressed my discouragement,
and she reminded me that there are always stories about families like
ours being remembered by Secret Santas. I tried to be cheered by her
suggestion, but I really didn't hold out much hope. She ended up calling me three times that day, which I thought was a little unusual, but there were other things going on in her life, that I thought were the reason for her calls. When my husband got home from work, she insisted on talking with him. He left the room and went downstairs, I tried not to listen, but I couldn't help but overhear him giving her some details of our neighbourhood, which is odd because she lives in Washington, DC and has never been to our home. When he came back upstairs, I could tell that something was up, and I knew he couldn't keep the secret from the look on his face. He told me that she would kill me if she knew that he had told me, but he filled me in on what was going on.
On Wednesday of last week, my friend Sabrina got on a plane and flew to Detroit, rented a car and drove 3.5 hours to our home. Then she purchased and wrapped several presents for our family. She put them in a box and drove to our neighbourhood. Then she went back to a hotel room that she had booked, slept, drove back to Detroit and flew home. That is why she had called so many times, she wanted to hear second hand if our family had received anything. Unfortunately, she figured out that perhaps that she dropped the box at the wrong address or that the package had been stolen, and this is why she had spoken to my husband. The only word I have to describe my feelings about what she did is flabbergasted--not a very eloquent word, but the only one that fits. I couldn't sleep that night wondering if the people who had found our package were honest and praying that all my friend's work would not be in vain.
The next morning my husband went across the street to see if he could find a house that had our package. Thankfully, he discovered that some honest people had left it intact and had plans to survey the neighbourhood to discover who it belong to. When we opened it, it was full of beautifully wrapped presents of all shapes and sizes for all of us.
Over the years, I have played Secret Santa for many families and I have kept the secret. I never thought that someone would do it for me. Some people would probably wonder why she went to so much trouble. It would have been easier for my friend to send a package in the mail, but sending something through customs annonymously isn't really possible in our world. It has been hard to talk to my friend and not reveal that I know her secret, but in a way I am glad I know, because it makes what has happened to us so much more meaningful. I did send an email out to all my friends, including her, talking about what had happened in general terms, and sharing my feelings, so she would know how I felt.
I am so grateful for all the time and effort that went into the preparation of that box, and although the gift cards say that the presents are from "Santa," I
believe that whoever gave them to us must be an angel, because they
heard our silent prayers. Hayden is very, very excited about the
colourful array that now fills the bottom of our once lonely Christmas
tree--it is all we can do to keep him from opening all of them. His
joy and our joy have melted away the bittersweetness of this season
for us, and replaced it with intense gratitude.
Christmas is still Christmas without presents, but somehow it rings a
little hollow without them. And this Christmas I am tearfully
gratefully for the Christ-like person who took the time out of their
busy schedule to remember our family. Someday we will tell Hayden
about this Christmas, and deliver a box of packages to another family
who is facing the holiday season with bittersweet feelings.
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. This was so moving. I am so happy for you all. Times are rough for everyone these days but we all have better days ahead.
, that is absolutely amazing!!! Thank you for sharing that with us summertime. Sabrina surely is an 
like yours, Summertime!!
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