Christmas Stories

– Secret Santa –

Christmas Stories

Christmas stories help us remember and rekindle our Light. The Light is real, and it truly is in each of us. It reminds me of the quiet, thoughtful, generosity of the classic Christmas story by Beatrix Potter: The Tailor of Gloucester… or like the glow we feel in the kind, thoughtful generosity of a childhood Secret Santa.

Last week I retold my own Light story of The Christmas Star. The Light continues this week in a story about a time when someone helped me remember and rekindle my LIGHT. I was about ten years old, and it is still one of my favorite happenings – still sending up sparks of LIGHT in my memory-fizzes.

I hope these stories help you find your LIGHT.

My Christmas Story

Agog, I stood in the little book section of Amy Jane’s children’s shop, staring at the price tag on the book in my hands. Good gravy! I can’t afford this! I had no idea it would cost so much! But what can I do?

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, each 5^th grader got to be a Secret Santa for one special classmate. My Secret Santa was Flora. I had fun leaving little surprises for her, like a sharpened pencil with a removable eraser, or a paper snowflake I cut and sprinkled with glitter, or a little yarn bracelet I crocheted. On our last day of school before the holiday, we would discover who our Secret Santa was when we exchanged real, wrapped Christmas presents.

A Secret Santa Gift

I knew Flora loved reading about horses and wanted the book, Black Beauty. But, ogling the price on the book, I knew, I didn’t have enough money for it. Time seemed to stand still as I stood there, wondering what I could do instead.

A voice interrupted my muddle. “Can I help you?”

It was the prim and proper store owner, Amy Jane.

Startled, I blurted, “It’s for Flora, my Secret Santa.”

“Oh, what fun!” She exclaimed, and her cheeks brightly dimpled.

Her smile surprised me, but I only mumbled clumsily, “I know she really wants this… but….” I slid it back on the shelf.

Christmas and Secret Santa Twinkles

Amy Jane pulled it back out. She looked at the price. She looked at me. Her mouth puckered and her eyes twinkled. “Well, you’re in luck!” she declared, “This is on sale!”

She whisked it to the counter, saying, “Let’s wrap it in our festive Christmas paper!”

In a fog of wonderment, I followed her to the counter, opened my little cloth money pouch, and counted out my few dollar bills followed by a quarter and lots of pennies, nickels, and dimes.

Amy Jane laughed and scooped up the money, poking it with her finger. I guessed she was counting it. She looked up at me and said, “Perfect!” Her hand reached out to me, “And you get a dime back!”

Flabbergasted

Flabbergasted, I dropped the coin back into my pouch while Amy Jane fingered the bookmarks next to the cash register. She chose one with horses on it, showed it to me, and slipped it into the front page of the book.

I was so surprised, I was struck dumb – mute as a button!

Secret Santa and Christmas Wrappings

Amy Jane simply buzzed along. Next, she dazzled my eyes with a gorgeous paper of red and green holly and little gold jingle-bells on a creamy white background. Expertly she folded the end papers into triangles and snipped-off clear cellophane tape to seal it. But she wasn’t finished.

She pulled off a stream of bright red ribbon and tied it up, finishing it off with a flourish in a fancy bow.