Joni's Story - The Unexpected Santa

This happened many years ago when my children were small but it has stuck with me throughout the years.  My town had a restaurant that my children and I frequented.  We had a favorite waitress there named Melanie and we always asked if there was a table available in her section because she was friendly and gave great service. 

Over time we got to know more details about each other's lives through small talk while ordering and during our meals out.  We knew Melanie and her husband had a daughter who was about three years of age and on one of our evenings there Melanie told us she recently found out they were expecting baby number two and she was hoping for a boy.  We expressed our excitement for her and talked about the usual - baby showers, baby names, food cravings, etc. 

Throughout the next months we watched as her baby bump grew and she seemed very excited.  She told us at one point that it was another little girl and her husband was disappointed.  We noticed as time went on that she was more and more depressed and not as talkative.  I asked her one night if she was okay.  

She expressed that her husband had left her and filed for divorce and she didn't know what they were going to do.  She was working as much as her pregnancy would allow but they were struggling to pay the bills and her soon to be ex was dating a new woman and not sending them money.  She stated she was going to take him to court for child support but hadn't had the time to pursue it yet and felt she wouldn't be able to until the baby was born.  Thanksgiving had just passed and she didn't know how she was going to provide a Christmas for her daughter and afford diapers and necessities for the new baby when keeping the lights on and heat in the house was a struggle.

My husband and I were fortunate in that financially we were very stable and I knew he would be supportive about me helping someone in need so I left her a $250.00 tip on a $40.00 lunch tab.  I left before she could realize what I had done as I didn't want her to feel awkward.  

I got home and the situation continued to gnaw at me.  My heart went out to her.  Not only had she lost her partner but she was wondering how to provide for her children as well as feeling fear that she was letting them down...especially her daughter who was missing her father and would have to be told that Santa wasn't coming that year.  How do you make that make sense to a child?

I decided I had to do more.  I began making phone calls. I got local businesses to donate baby items for the new baby.  I got other businesses and people and churches from the community to rally and make donations.  I took everything I had collected and went shopping for them for Christmas.  I paid their utility bills for the months of December and January. I was able to get toys and clothing for the little girl, clothing and a laundry basket full of supplies for the new baby as well as a few months worth of diapers in different sizes.  I also got a beautiful robe and slippers, lotions and some candies for Melanie and a spa day for her with a coupon saying I would babysit so she could take a day and get some well deserved pampering.  My husband and I and our two teenagers dressed up as Santa, Mrs. Klaus and two elves and showed up at her door on Christmas Eve.

When she opened the door and saw us there she had this look of shock and disbelief on her face, almost as if she felt Christmas would come and go and no one would see them and recognize how badly they were hurting.  As they began to open everything and see what we were able to provide for them, the first smile I had seen on her face in months just continued to grow. I felt the Christmas spirit burning inside me with a warmth that I don't believe I had felt since my own kids were small and the magic of Christmas permeated every part of the holiday because of their childlike joy and exuberance. 

We celebrated with them for a few hours and then told her daughter that Santa had to get to other children's houses and we hoped she had a wonderful Christmas.  She ran over and hugged my husband's legs and looked up at him with the most genuine smile and said "Thank you, Santa."  She hugged the rest of us and then Melanie walked over and wrapped her arms around me and whispered in my ear a sincere "Thank you so much."  

As we were driving home that night and the kids were in the back seat in their elf costumes chatting about random Christmas things my husband looked over at me and I'm pretty sure he saw a look of complete contentment and gratitude on my face.  He reached over and gave my hand a squeeze and a small smile and at that moment I think we both realized the true meaning of the season more than we ever had before.  As the Grinch himself said all too well "maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more.