Yes Chrissy, there is a Santa Claus

Dear Chrissy,


I heard from a friend about your purse being stolen. It's terrible to think that someone would do that, especially during the holiday season. We can only pray that their need was greater than ours.


I can't replace your personal things, but I hope the enclosed will replenish your Christmas shopping money. (And maybe your faith in others) If you have a chance maybe you can do the same for someone else.


You gave me the chance to play Santa,

God bless you & Merry Christmas,

A friend,

PS I have enclosed cash, I hope it reaches you ok.

I was seventeen years old when my purse was stolen from the cafeteria at my high school. I had worked, like many teenagers, at the mall to earn money for Christmas. I scrimped and saved my paychecks and my allowance until I had the great sum of $80 set aside to buy presents for my family and a few friends. With great excitement I brought my money to school with me so that I could hit the mall after classes. But I was careless and foolishly left my purse behind after lunch. I never saw it again. I was still young enough to be stunned that someone, one of my fellow students no less, had stolen my purse just a couple of weeks before Christmas. There was no time to earn more money, and I would not be able to buy presents this year.

A few days later I received the above letter in the mail. The letter was typed with no signature or return address. Enclosed were 5, crisp, new $20 bills. My Christmas cash was more than replenished, and I would be able to buy presents after all.

To this day I have no idea who sent this special gift my way, though I do suspect it was one of the teachers from my high school.

I keep this letter, neatly folded, in my Christmas stocking, and every year I pull it out and read it again and every year I cry, just a little, to know that someone would do such a kindly thing with no need for thanks or recognition. Since my children have been born, it has become a sort of tradition to carefully unfold the letter and read it aloud to the family as we decorate for the season. I tell the children that Santa does indeed exist and this letter is proof of his gentle, giving spirit.

Yes, Chrissy, there is a Santa Claus.