My wife and I struggled for years to have children and by the Christmas of 2003 we had given up. The Christmas season was extremely painful as it was an annual reminder we lacked a child. When everyone else was concentrating on family and creating memories that last a lifetime we were buying the dog a gift (you know the type....they post pics of their dogs on Facebook).
I remember walking through a store watching parents shopping for their children and I felt cheated. Joy was all around me but all I felt was emptiness, and self pity. It was at that moment we happened upon a "Wish Tree."
The tree was covered with paper ornaments on which needy children had written their Christmas list hoping a magical Santa might bring them presents. My wife said, "....we're never going to have children so why don't you pick yourself a son and buy him Christmas..." and that is exactly what I did.
I read every ornament on the tree and decided upon a little boy named Nicholas. He was almost 5 years old and his list was very different, it was quite simple..... "....Santa, may I please have a ball, a toy car and motorcycle and a coat." (I'll bet his mom made him ask for the coat)
In my mind I could see this little boy cold and hungry with nothing to open on Christmas morning. And I decided his Christmas that year would be one he would never forget, this little boy would believe that Santa was real, so I took his list and went a little nuts.
He asked for a ball, and that is exactly what I purchased for him, a baseball, a basketball, a football and a soccer ball. A baseball without a ball and glove would be silly so I picked up those as well.
He asked for a car, but never mentioned a color? So, I filled the cart with a rainbow assortment of cars and trucks..... Every boy needs a truck, so I bought a pickup truck, a dump truck and a firetruck.
Well, everyone knows I love motorcycles, what man doesn't? So of course little Nicholas had to have an assortment of those as well. Yep, that little boy had enough cars and trucks and bikes to supply hte neighborhood.
And then I turned to finding him the perfect coat. Back then the Rams were good, so I found a Ram's jacket just his size, but what is a coat without gloves, and a jersey and some pants. I had every intention of spoiling little Nicholas.....he was after all my only son. And then I noticed there was still a little room in the cart..... I sort of rounded the pile adding a handful of books and crayons with a few educational toys and just to round out the gifts I threw in some snacks.
Before I knew it 3 hours had passed. For three wonderful hours I was just like everyone else buying gifts for my child. It was the greatest Christmas ever. I honestly didn't think I could be happier, .....I was wrong.
The following Christmas my wife was pregnant with twin boys and my life would change forever. That year I tried to locate Nicholas to buy him Christmas again.......but he had disappeared as if he had never existed. I will always wonder what became of my "first son" and I thank God daily for giving me the greatest gift, a child to call my own.
If you are in a position to help a needy child this year....... please consider it, you might find the real gift is yours.
This Christmas miracle story is impressive by itself......but that is not the end of the story. The following Christmas I looked for Nicholas again, but didn't find him..... So I picked another child and repeated our Christmas tradition.
God blessed us again, the following Christmas my wife and I not only had our twin boys to celebrate the season but also new born triplets.
With just two pregnancies we went from a couple unable of having a child to a family of seven. Give what you can, the reward is yours!
Feel free to share if you feel the need. Every child should have a great Christmas.
