Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas From Us To U

Jer n I wish all our Blogger friends a Blessed Christmas. We would like to share this heartwarming story with you. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb:
"There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.
For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.
"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: it reads "$19.95."
May you always have LOVE to share,
HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!


 






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19 comments:

Linda said...

I love this story - a wonderful and timely reminder of the reason for the season. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!

gigi said...

With a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat, THANK YOU!
Blessings for a very Merry Christmas!

MadSnapper said...

love your Christmas card to us, beautiful and oh so creative.

TexWisGirl said...

yes, i love that story. :)

merry christmas, jan & jer!

Clytie said...

What a wonderful Christmas story!

Merry Christmas, Jan & Jer - I am so thankful to have found your wonderful blog. :=}

Jan said...

Fantastic story. Merry Christmas to you and Jer.

icedgurl said...

trekking your superb blog! keep blogging and inspiring people! happy holidays!

cheers!
...TREK...

Sayre said...

Oh, I cried! I get a bit mushy about things like this. Thank you for sharing.

Teresa said...

This is a beautiful story. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Faye said...

Being a "Bobby" myself can certainly remember when kind people made sure that a little kid had something from Santa. And how wise was your Grandmother to understand how to keep the magic going. These kinds of experiences make us who we are as adults. In your case, good people!

Merry Christmas, Janis.

Daliana Pacuraru said...

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, my dear friends! Wish you wonderful life in the coming years.

Carole M. said...

I love your Christmas photograph of you both in the bauble. Thanks for sharing so much on your blog; look forward to more for 2012. Best wishes,

don said...

A wonderful Christmas story that was told so well and impacted me very strongly! Thanks. The Christmas ornament and picture was a very nice touch. I hope you're having the best Christmas ever!

Living Life said...

A great story and a wonderful Christmas too!

Bridget Larsen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bridget Larsen said...

aww that is such a beautiful story, I'm going to find my Bobby Decker every month to help out, not just at Christmas

Pamela said...

I hope it is a true story! What a great way to keep Santa alive and real.

Dianna said...

I, too, hope this is a true story. It's a special one!

Sherry said...

What a beautiful heartwarming story. Your Grandma was a wise women! Thanks for sharing this special memory with us.
Have a Happy New Year filled with blessings.