Christmas Surprise

This story shows what friends can do to help a desperate situation (at Christmas time or not)... Prayer works too!

By Barbara Wear, MA

On December 2, 1971, my husband has a massive heart attack.

He had been out of work and got a day's work unloading Christmas trees. We had breakfast together that morning and two hours later I got a call he was in the hospital and unresponsive. I got to the hospital and was told that he had been brought back to life. He lingered between life and death for a few days and then started to get better.

In the meantime, Christmas was approaching and without any money coming in, I didn't know what I would get for my kids for Christmas.

I sat them down on the bed one night and told them that Santa might not make it to our house. Our second son, Doug, went out the next day and cut down a fir tree... the kind that if you put anything on it... it reaches for the ground. We had fun decorating it though but the thought of having nothing to put under it pulled on my heartstrings.

Another week went by and my husband was improving. I had applied to welfare and was waiting on a check that would not come until after Christmas.

My dad was able to give me a few dollars but since he was retired, he couldn't afford much.

Then on the Sunday before Christmas,I heard horns honking as they drove down our dirt road. Going to the window, I saw two cars pull up to the house. The kids and I went running outside to be greeted by my friend, Peggy and some of her family. They had two cars loaded down with gifts and plenty of food for two Christmas dinners. They told the kids who at the time were 13, 12, 10, 6 and 2 that Santa got lost and left all those gifts at their homes.

Needless to say, we had a wonderful Christmas that year.

There was even a nice sweater for my husband to wear when he came home the week after the new year.

Do I believe in Santa? You bet I do...

HE is called the "Mighty Provider" and renewed my faith in God.