Dear Santa,

You are probably thinking you already know my Christmas wish. While, I selfishly would love the opportunity to have a little more time with my dad, I know he is in a much better place. Instead, I would like to wish for you to sprinkle a little of your Christmas magic around for everyone to enjoy this Christmas season. Let the lights add a twinkle in everyone’s eyes and let the tunes be the sound that reminds everyone of the true meaning for the Christmas season.

You see Christmas has always been my favorite holiday but this year it’s going to be a little different. This year, I have had to dig a little deeper to find my Christmas spirit and look in new places. But I think with a little help from you and your Christmas magic I will manage just fine. My tree is up, mantle is sparkling and my frasier fir candle smells delightful! But when I began to make my list of gifts to buy I remembered what Christmas is really about. It’s not about how many gifts I can buy or even finding the perfect one because the best Christmas gifts are not bought but rather shared with others.

I experienced a true Christmas miracle in March while cleaning out my dad’s house. I know it sounds crazy to experience a Christmas miracle three months after the Christmas season but I did. As I began to go through dad’s things I came across a few gifts I had bought him over the years; sweaters, hunting boots, TV and even a laptop. But all of these gifts were just scattered throughout his house and some tucked away in the back of closets. However, the special gifts I found all in one place where dad kept all of his valuables. I found letters that I had written my dad and slid into his Christmas stocking over the years. These letters had no monetary value but of the many gifts I had given my dad these were the gifts he valued most.

See dad was hard to buy for because how many sweaters, hunting jackets and boots does a man really need? But his stocking was always easy; jar of peanuts, gift cards to his favorite restaurants, shaving stuff and his annual letter. Some years I would hand write the letter, other years I would type it and a few times I tried to make the letters festive with Christmas clip art.

I had forgotten about these letters and had no idea my dad had saved them. But as I struggled through cleaning out his house, going through years of memories and saying goodbye to my childhood home I came across the letters I had written him. It was there sitting on his bedroom floor that I experienced a Christmas miracle. My guilt suddenly started to fade away, the tears rolling down my face transitioned into happy tears and my heart didn’t feel quite as heavy. These letters were proof I did in fact tell my dad how much he meant to me, I told him how much I appreciated him and I told him how much I enjoyed spending time with him.

When we lose someone we love and are forced to say goodbye I think most of us wish we would have had the chance to spend a little more time with that person, wish we could have made a few more memories or wish we would have told them how much they truly meant to us. So this year when you can’t think of the perfect gift a simple letter, card or kind gesture goes a long way and can be more valuable than you may ever know.

So Santa if you can please help people find their Christmas spirit even if it means looking in new places, remind us all of the true meaning for Christmas, open our hearts to those we love, and allow us to cherish this wonderful season making everlasting memories with friends and family.  Do It For You!