SallyGanoJones

I was teaching in a small South Georgia town a few years ago. I asked my fifth graders to write about “What you want for Christmas.”

After students turned in their papers, one fifth grade boy, Dale, wrote and asked for gifts for his younger brother and sister, & his parents. He did not ask for anything for himself!

I knew the family was going through a rough time. I went shopping with my limited funds (as a single mother myself) and purchased gifts on his Christmas list for his family and a gift for him as well. I wrapped each one with a name tag and “from Santa” on each one.

I took the bag of wrapped gifts to my principal, Mr. Brock, and asked him to play Santa, allowing me to remain anonymous. On the last day before Christmas break, Mr. Brock, my Santa, called Dale to his office and told him there was a package of gifts to take home.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I saw Dale on his way to his school bus! He was carrying the large sack of gifts that “Santa” had delivered, and he was smiling more than I’d ever seen him smile before.

I still have fond memories of that day, and hope he and his family enjoyed their unexpected gifts.