A man in Idaho who stopped celebrating Christmas after losing his wife received a surprise gift from a Secret Santa that left him in tears.
Christmas is a season of joy. But it should not be a celebration confined to the walls of our church or home. There are many people out there struggling to make ends meet or going through hardships this season.
This heartwarming story shows that the true joy of Christmas comes when we try to make others happy.
Tom lives in Bingham County, Idaho, in a small house his father built nearly 100 years ago. He has lived there since he was five years old.
Money is tight for Tom. He says putting $20 of gas in his truck for an entire month feels like living big. But that does not stop him from helping others.
Every day, Tom serves his neighbor without asking for anything in return. He mows her lawn. He trims her trees. He weeds her garden.
When winter comes, he shovels her sidewalk and driveway. Then he spreads ice melt so she will not slip and fall. Tom does this all on his own just because he cares.
Six years ago, Tom’s wife passed away. Life has not been the same since. When the East Idaho News elves showed up at his house, Tom shared something heartbreaking.
“I don’t celebrate Christmas anymore,” he said. “Since wife passed away.”
He has also lost his stepdaughter and his oldest stepson. Tom lives alone now in that old house.
This winter, Tom faced a serious problem. His pellet stove quit working. It was 25 years old, and technicians said it was no longer repairable and that he needed a new one. But new pellet stoves cost around $5,000. Tom could not afford it.
That is when Secret Santa stepped in. The elves surprised Tom with gifts he never saw coming. They handed him $1,000 in grocery store gift cards. Then they gave him a certificate for $8,000 to buy a brand-new pellet stove and a whole pallet of pellets to keep his house warm all winter.
Tom stood there holding the cards. His hands shook. He could barely speak. “Very seldom you get a gift like this,” he finally said. The elves told him that Secret Santa wanted him to know something important. Secret Santa loved him.
Tom spent years taking care of others even when he had almost nothing himself. Now someone took care of him. God sees people like Tom. He sees their kind hearts and their quiet service. And He makes sure they are not forgotten.
Love is the true message of Christmas because God sent His only begotten Son to save us from our sins. So our Christmas should be a season where we bring hope to others like Tom. Let our greatest joy be the smile of the person we help.
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