This year had been very difficult financially for my family due to budget cuts, layoffs, and unforeseen circumstances and with the holiday season around the corner, I didn’t know how I was going to buy Christmas presents for my children until my very own Santa showed up.
One day while window shopping with my 4 month old son, a stranger walked up to me and began a conversation asking the usual baby questions like how old is he, will Santa be coming to see him, was he my only child, etc. After a few minutes of talking, he introduced himself as Ralph, and asked for help with shopping for for his grandkids since he didn't know what to buy. I agreed since I was only window shopping and didn’t have anywhere to be at the time, and because I had children close to the same age that he was looking for, I figured I’d be of some help.
We went through the entire store picking out this and that. The whole time he kept apologizing for taking up my time and was saying how it was hard to come across nice people these days. While shopping, he told me that he has been a widow for the past 2 years and his children and grandchildren were grown, and how the holidays weren’t the same without them. When the cart was full of clothes and toys, Ralph thanked me for all of my help but had one more request. He said that he also wanted to buy something for his grandchildren's mother, but he didn’t know what to buy. I made a few suggestions, and suggested a gift card would be nice so she could pick out what she wanted. He thanked me again for being helpful and so nice to him. We parted ways and I continued to window shop for a few items.
When I left the store about 20 minutes later I heard a woman calling out “Ma’am, ma’am with the baby, you left something”. At first I kept walking because I didn’t think she was speaking to me because I knew I didn’t leave anything. When she caught up to me, she said that she had something for me at customer service. I had no idea of what she was talking and thought there was some mistake, but I followed her to customer service and she pushed a shopping cart full of bags toward me and said that she was to make sure I didn’t forget them. I was still confused, and so I told her that she must have the wrong person because I only purchased two items and they were in my bag. She then handed me an envelope with a card which read:
“Thank you for helping an old man find joy again. You made me believe that Martha is looking down on me from above to send one of her angels when I needed one the most. The presents you helped me pick out are for you and your children. You are a kind person and this is my thanks to you. Never change. -- Ralph”
I looked around to see if I could find Ralph but he was gone. I asked the woman if this was some type of candid camera joke and if there were cameras. She said it wasn’t a joke, and that Ralph made her promise to make sure I received the gifts. I stood there for a few minutes as the tears rolled down my cheeks. I was speechless and very thankful. On Christmas day my 10 year old asked where the presents came from and I told him ... Santa.
16.8K Reads
- Posted by 2zdrbz
- Jul 27, 2010
- Comments (39)
Readers Comments
jsmc10 wrote: Oh my, bless ralph, this made me tear up, beautiful, beautiful
Zevelina wrote: Santa is real, in every kind person :)
Kieran wrote: Made a grown man cry. Is doesn't get much better than that
Edwin Menjivar wrote: Love this xoxoxo
Edwin Menjivar wrote: :)
Edwin Menjivar wrote: Awesome book :)
Abhi Sharma wrote: It''s a world fantastic story and all the bestto you.
Raggedy Ann wrote: That man knew what it is supposed to all be about,christmas,life, love all of it.
ntombie wrote: I love this
