My husband and I have managed our finances responsibly, but there have been a few years when we didn’t have a lot of money for Christmas – years with unemployment, underemployment, and other curveballs from life.
During these leaner years, we were blessed to be the recipients of kindness from multiple Secret Santas as well as some Not-So-Secret Santas. These people selflessly gave us gifts, money, and some intangible things that helped our children have magical Christmas memories. I’ve been able to thank only a few of these people in person. I want to take a minute and send thank you messages to all the special people who have gone out of their way to brighten my family’s Christmas celebrations.
If you have ever been a Secret Santa for someone, I hope you read the following list.
Thank you for doing the 12 days of Christmas for my family. You may have thought your gifts weren’t that special because they came from the dollar store, but we looked forward to each day’s surprise.
Thank you for the money you donated to a group fund that was then passed on to us and several other families. We’d had a crazy year and had recently moved into the neighborhood. The money helped us feel seen by our new community.
Thank you for the plate of cookies with the simple ornament taped to the cling wrap. I think of you every year when I hang that ornament on my tree.
Thank you for the money you sent us in the mail – two years in a row! The money may not have been for Christmas specifically, but it allowed me to cover some bills and protect the money I’d been saving for the kids’ presents.
Thank you for dropping off toys that your children had outgrown. My kids thought Christmas had come early.
Thank you for purchasing presents for my children. The clothes kept my children warm, and the presents kept the magic of Christmas alive for every member of the family.
Thank you for including gloves and a hat for me when you bought all my children hats and gloves. It’s one of my favorite winter hats.
Thank you for calling me to get a list of my children’s favorite colors, their clothing sizes, and their interests. I would have been fine with any gifts, but I was touched that you wanted to make sure everything would fit.
Thank you for working with the school to get a new coat for my daughter when her zipper broke. We’d just moved back from the south and getting enough quality winter gear for everyone had been tricky.
Thank you for the great conversation at the church Christmas party. I loved getting to know you better and I’m sad we don’t live close anymore.
Thank you for donating to the community toy drive. My husband and I were so honored to “shop” for toys for our children at the excellent toy drive.
Thank you for telling me “It’s not about there being room on a list” when I tried to decline the offer for help with Christmas presents.
Thank you for including your Christmas fudge in the bag with the presents for the children. I thoroughly enjoyed that fudge.
Thank you for wrapping the gifts that were dropped off at our house. The wrapping was almost too beautiful to open. It looked like Santa’s Elves themselves had wrapped each gift.
Thank you for dressing up as Santa and treating my children like they were the most special children in the world. I tell people that I’ve met the real Santa because I’ve met you.
Thank you for being a good example of selfless service. One day I hope to be able to help other families the way you have helped mine.
And you, thank you for the kindness you have put into the world. You may not be my Secret Santa, but I’m sure you have been someone’s Secret Santa. Thank you for keeping the magic alive.
