SECRET SANTA

December 12, 2006

I am a single parent and this christmas season, I knew that I could not really afford much in the way of gifts for my family. Sometime last week, as this thought ran through my mind, I reminded myself to be thankful to God for all that He had done for us throughout the year (which was a lot and more) and then determined to be happy with whatever little I could afford in way of gifts for the family. Two days later, I got home to a telephone message that went like this "I do not know you and you do not know me, but I am a secret Santa and I do this every year; I have three bags of gifts for ..................(and went on to mention my kids name), so please call me at .................................so we can arrange to meet and give you the gifts". Very surprised, I called the number and found out that it was not a prank call but very real. We scheduled a meeting and I picked the large bags of gifts, individually wrapped and labelled according to name for my family, from Santa and his reindeer.

I just want to profusely make known my gratitude to God and appreciation for the stranger that did not know us, but responded to God's notification like the Shepherds at Jesus's birth. May God bless you in Jesus name. Please join me in praying God's mercies and love upon this gentle secret Santa.

LL.

The other day, a sister from the church brought over a collection of gifts for my kid. They included 2 sets of lovely winter hats, scarves and gloves. I said to myself, "we will keep these for next year, since we already have something for this winter".

The following Monday, I took my daughter to the store for some supplies. While we were there, she goes "Mummy, I'm hot. Can I take off my coat?" To which I replied "yes". Well, we get back, and then I realised that her hood (which she had detached from her coat) was not there. She had dropped it in the store. I hurried back to the store and could not find it.

I was about to get upset about it, wondering what to do for a covering for her head, when I remembered the winter set gift she had been given over the weekend. And that struck a chord in my spirit, how that gift was given just before I realised that I would need it! 

And I said to myself, "isn't that just like God!' He always plans way ahead of us. And if we look, we will see that He has prepared us to cope in every situation.