Secret Santa spreads joy, disbelief in Kansas City

EmailPrint..– Tue Dec 14, 9:45 pm ET
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Secret Santa II hit the streets Tuesday in a long-standing Kansas City tradition of handing out $100 bills — sometimes several at a time — to unsuspecting strangers in thrift stores, food pantries and shelters.

Some people gasped in surprise. Some wanted to know if the $100 bill the tall man in the red cap offered was fake. Others wept.

Secret Santa II has seen a lot of reactions since taking over where his mentor, Kansas City's original Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, left off when he died in 2007 at age 58. Like Stewart, who gave away more than $1 million to strangers each December in mostly $100 bills, this Secret Santa prefers to stay anonymous.

A fake white beard taped to his face, Secret Santa II handed out about $10,000 in total Tuesday. Recipients included a police officer with terminal cancer, a homeless man pushing a rickety old shopping cart, an 81-year-old woman who had recently told her 27 grandchildren she wouldn't be able to afford any Christmas gifts, and Bernadette Turner, a 32-year-old unemployed mother of two.

"It's hard to come by," Turner said looking in disbelief at the $200 Secret Santa had given her.

Then one of Santa's "elves" — another tall man in a red cap — sidled up to next to Turner, asked a few questions, and handed her an additional $100. Turner, whose children are 3 and 8, was overcome.

"I can only afford one gift for each child. But now ...." she said, wiping tears from her cheeks and reaching out for a hug.

"Do you believe in Santa Claus?" Capt. Ray Wynn of the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department, asked from a few feet away. Wynn had followed Stewart on many "sleigh rides" around the country and now follows this Secret Santa, providing stories, memories and amusing sound effects.

"I do now," Turner said. "I do now."

Secret Santa II took over from Stewart about the time the recession hit and the economy went into a tailspin. Like Stewart, this Secret Santa doesn't talk about his own finances, where those $100 bills come from and if — like for so many people now — they've been harder to come by.

Come December, he just fills his pockets with money, dons his red cap and heads out looking for people to make really happy.

He will likely hand out about $40,000 this December. He says he'll go "till the money runs out."

"The recession, unemployment. This is the time you don't want to stop. You don't want to back off," he said.

He walked up to Peggy Potter, 59, of Kansas City, Kan., who was looking at some framed prints at a thrift store. He made some small talk, put his arm around her and within minutes she was crying. Her son died about a year and a half ago. Her husband died in July and her daughter died soon after that.

"I'm just ... today's been a rough day for me, just thinking about my loved ones," she said. "I've been having a hard time paying for all the funerals."

Santa gave her $200, listened more, hugged her, and told her the poster she was holding had special meaning. It was a photo of two hands, one large, one small. Words printed at the bottom could have been written by Secret Santa, the original or the current one.

It said: "Kindness in giving creates love."

The Gift of Giving

I had the sincere honor to work with the volunteers of GRACE yesterday and I am beyond blown away at the tremendous support of contributions and volunteers working together to make sure this is a good holiday for those in need. I was able to do the fun stuff of picking out what clothes and toys would go to each family and wrapping the gifts for them. I browsed many items and I expected (since every item was donated) that there would be a lot of dollar store toys or thin items of clothing that would most likely tear with the first washing, but there wasn't a single item that appeared as if it were just randomly purchased without generous thought. I almost cried because I could almost see every toy and clothing item being carefully selected. I could see the person scrutinizing over whether the toy would be something fun or educational or whether it would be something to bring a happy tear to the eyes of an excited child and an appreciative mother who just wants the best for her children, but can't afford to provide that for them. It's overwhelming to imagine the different situations and to wrap your mind around all the unconditional love that everyone is pouring into this. It leaves you speechless to be in the middle of it all.

For those of you that do not understand what 'Positive Energy' means...what I described is a perfect example of positive energy. Taking the best parts of you and sharing it unconditionally with the world; being completely selfless and genuinely using God's grace to take care of those in need even if you are one of them also. God made us to be so special and it would be careless to let our gifts go to waste. I pray that everyone takes the time to be completely selfless at least once a day. It doesn't necessarily have to be joining a charity either; sometimes the smallest good deed can be what brings about the greatest happiness to someone else.

Christmas time is the best time of year to find organizations and charities because there tend to be more during these holidays; however, I encourage this kind of selfless devotion of time and energy throughout the year as well. Get in contact with your local churches and organizations and find out how you can make a difference to others in your community. If there aren't any activities going on then lead your own cause or reach out to as many as possible on your own. Another way of helping would be to step out of yourself and pay attention to friends, family, or even a complete stranger who wears a mark of sadness over them. You could really make someone's day by simply being a shoulder to cry on or even bring a lasting smile to someone with a witty joke or two. The possibilities are endless and every deed requires so little, but the rewards are so grand. God bless everyone!

Unseen gifts poem (Untitled and author unknown)

You gave on the way a pleasant smile
And thought no more about it.
It cheered a life that had been dark the while
Which might have been wrecked without it.
And so for that smile that was given there,
You'll have a reward sometime-somewhere.

 

You spoke one day a cheering word,
And passed to other duties.
It cheered a heart; new promise stirred
And painted a life with beauties.
And so for that word of golden cheer,
You'll have a reward sometime-somewhere.

 

You lent a hand to a fallen one;
life in love was given.
You saved a soul when hope was gone
And helped him on toward heaven.
and, so for that help you offered there,
You'll have a reward sometime-somewhere.

 

Author Unknown 

Poverty Tells Stories

This is a subject that's always near and dear to my heart. I'm going to share something very personal because it goes along with this video, and I cried my eyes out once I watched it. My mom and I were homeless at one point, very briefly, but we started out in a station wagon when I was real young. Eventually we upgraded to a broken down trailer in a junk yard. I remember sleeping in the car, but not very vividly; I do, however, remember the junk yard and it was one of the greatest times in my life. My toys were the broken down bicycle without any wheels or the old school bus loaded with garbage or the wide array of classic cars left out to rot. I amused myself with things that I found just lying around and I used my imagination to entertain me and I never once felt that I needed more. The only time that I was hurt was when we only had enough food to feed me and my mom would eat whatever I didn't finish. She worked three jobs to get us out of that situation, but it took a very long time. I didn't know then, but Mom only ate Gerber food because it was all that she could afford because my table scraps, alone, were not enough to sustain her. We stood in the lines at the food bank and I used to make friends with everyone around me. I played with the homeless guy and I was the most giddy little girl whenever Mom and I would get free food from strangers. I didn't understand at the time, but I understand now. My mom was tormented with our poverty, but I was having the time of my life. I loved that junk yard, I enjoyed sleeping next to my mom in the car, I enjoyed meeting those humble strangers. My mom made sure that I was always taken care of and life, for me, was RICH. So when I saw this video, especially the ending, I couldn't help but to be torn up inside. When you have nothing, something is everything; when you have everything something is nothing. So many of us live in abundance and yet we remain unhappy. I pray that you look upon your life with excitement and joy each day even during times when it feels as if you have nothing. I pray that you reach your hand out to those in need and share your love with others, even if love is all you can give. I pray that you are thankful for everything that God provides for you and that you make use of all your blessings. I pray that you never look down on another nor that you believe yourself greater in any way. I pray for humanity to be rich in life and love and laughter, not only material wealth. I pray that everyone sees the beauty in every situation and knows that everything happens in life for a reason. I pray for many things, but know that I pray for humanity every day and my prayers are answered every day; it is just up to others to receive it.

God bless you!

Great story and a wonderful lesson

I was going through and deleting my emails this morning and I didn't know who this came from so I deleted it, but then I had a feeling to dig in my trash and open it up to read it. I'm very glad that I did because this was a wonderful story. It's funny how appropriate it is right now too and I think that everyone can identify with running ahead of God once in awhile. I think that I received this email for a reason and perhaps someone else is reading this for a reason too. If not, then I hope that this at least brings a smile to someone today. :)
Running Ahead
By Melodi Leih

My friend Sheila and I were at the mall with our four-year-old girls beside us and our two small boys in strollers. My daughter Megan pushed the elevator button and as the doors opened, she and her friend Daniella stepped inside. Before Sheila and I could push the strollers in, the elevator doors closed with the girls inside, frantically calling for us as the elevator took off. I quickly headed up the escalator to try and catch them. When I reached the elevator upstairs, the girls were nowhere to be found and no one had seen them get off. I checked the other floors and then raced back downstairs.

As I arrived, the elevator doors opened with the girls inside. I have never before been so relieved. For years after, Megan refused to get into an elevator unless I got in first, saying, “I’m not going ahead of you anymore Momma.” Words of wisdom to be sure.

When I think about what “could be” in my life or the lives of my kids, I can easily get ahead of God as if my way would get me there faster. But in reality, I just end up getting lost like my daughter did. God has a plan for me and my children that I can trust. He is in control, so I’ll stand beside him, and not run ahead.

Dear God, thank you for the plans you have for me and my family. Teach me to not run ahead so I won’t miss out on the wonders you have in store.

Britt Nicole - The Lost Get Found (Official Music Video)

Britt and I would make a great team! Her and I are both on a mission to change the world and we are little by little. If we can make a difference in at least one person's life then our time on Earth would not have been wasted. I hope this song empowers others as it does me. It keeps me going through the day. <3

Count Your Blessings.

Try to be grateful for even the difficult and challenging situations that arise in your life.It is often through these situations that we experience the most profound spiritual and emotional growth.You can learn to view each apparent obstacle as an opportunity to develop a new quality , strength, skill,insight,or wisdom and be grateful for the lessons.Each and every challenge is another opportunity for growth and expansion.

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.
 



'' Of all the attitudes we can acquire , surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important , and by far the most life-changing.'' Zig Ziglar.

I get sent daily emails from 'Positive Thoughts' and this one was today's message. I highly encourage their blog and their daily positive thoughts (the name is so fitting). http://positive-thoughts.typepad.com/positive-thoughts/