Praying For Christmas Gifts

 

The old Cowboy has volunteered to dress and play Santa for many groups.  In fact, looking back on his life, it's been almost 30 years since he first volunteered to do it for a friend. And yes, ever since then, he's been Santa each year for at least one group or another.  

About thirty years ago, he was asked to "Be Santa" for a Senior Care facility. Agreeing, he bought a Santa suit, a wig, a beard, "Santa boots," and jingle bells of different types. He took on the role with good-natured gusto, ringing bells, and trying to fake a sincere deep-sounding "Ho! Ho! Ho!" that he imagined would be that of the real Santa.

He went to the Senior Center and played his part to the smiles of the seniors gathered for their Christmas lunch. They were thrilled. Many tried to peer past the wig and beard and glasses to see who it was trying to bring them some small Christmas joy. Most were like that of children. Most were wide-eyed and embraced Santa grabbing his white-gloved hands and smiling broadly. Most thanked Santa. A few told Santa their age. 

One woman gripped Santa's hand and said, "I'm a hundred and three. And I remember you." 

Behind the fake wig and beard, he smiled as a tear rolled down his cheek. He knelt beside her, and whispered in her ear, "And you're still a good girl." 

With that, she smiled, her heart beaming through her eyes, nodding, she said with a sense of real pride, "I always have been."

That day started years of going to that Senior Center. It progressed to him going to one or two Convelesencent Hospitals where some of those who lived there could not speak at all. And yet, he made his rounds as Santa shaking hands and greeting those confined to their beds. 

During one visit to the various rooms, an old man, who Santa found out later was in his late 90s, reached out and tugged on Santa's coat. The old man's eyes widened as he delicately motioned for Santa to come closer. It looked as if it took all of his strength to lift his hands, and the old gent's hands shook as he beckoned Santa to him. The old gentleman had a secret. He had a secret that he only wanted to share with Santa. 

As Santa stood there beside his bed, a nurse stepped closer and said it was the most excited that she'd ever seen him. Holding the old man's shaking hand, Santa obliged and bent over to put his ear close to the old gent. At first, he thought he heard only sounds. And for a moment, Santa really couldn't make out what the old man was saying. But then it became clear what the old man wanted, though soft as a whisper, it was clear what the secret was. 

It was a secret that Santa understood. It was a secret that Santa would remember for the rest of his life. And with that, Santa held the old man's hand. The old man looked up and soon nodded before closing his eyes. His grip on Santa's hand loosened and soon Santa knelt beside his bed. Holding the old man's hand, Santa prayed for him.  

There were more beds to visit. There were more old men and women to see. And yes, just as when Santa found out later that the old gent had no visitors and was always alone, he found out that many there had no visitors and were always alone. They were just waiting. It was just a matter of time. 

As for the old-timer who had a secret for Santa, Santa found out later how the old gent was looking forward to his arrival. The old-timer let a nurse know that Santa had something for him. It was a Christmas gift that he wanted. It was a Christmas gift that he had hoped for. Yes, a gift that he believed only Santa could get him. 

What was it that the old man whispered, what was it that the old gent wanted? "Please pray for me, Santa," the old man asked, "Pray for me, Santa." 

Yes indeed, Santa prayed for him. And no, he didn't need to know him to pray for him. After all, it was enough that that's what the old gent wanted. The old gent got what he wanted for his last Christmas — and all he wanted was for Santa to pray for him. 

Over the years, the old Cowboy has been Santa for all sorts of various groups and events, from hospitals to Christmas fundraisers and bazaars, to Christmas parties for rodeo clubs, veterans organizations, non-profits, and big and small community gatherings. Yes, he's even been the centerpiece of many a Christmas parade. He's done a lot of events as Santa. 

For about 20 years, he has looked forward to being the Santa for one small town. That town is your typical "Small Town USA" with a Main Street that's only three blocks long and buildings built before the Civil War. It is a tiny place when compared to large cities. Yes, most cities have sections of their cities that are so much larger than that town. Of course, that small town with its few blocks-long Main Street doesn't have the hustle and bustle of cars, horns, road rage, and congestion that big cities do. In fact, that small town doesn't even have a traffic light -- never the less road rage or congestion. 

Being a Santa in such a town is a wonderful experience. That's one reason why he's done it for so many years. Making himself available for parents so that they can take pictures of their big and small children, sometimes crying babies, with Santa has been something he looks forward to each year. Unbeknownst to all, behind his fake wig and beard, he mostly enjoys watching the parents standing in line. He loves watching their efforts and the joy that comes to them while they try so hard to let their children experience some of their own fond memories. 

Parents of every sort hand their child over to Santa to live a wonderful Christmas tradition. It's a tradition that they experienced as children. And yes, it's a Christmas tradition that they want for their children. 

Yes indeed, he enjoys it all. And while he tries to make their children enjoy the moment, so the parents can get that snapshot that they'll treasure for years, Santa enjoys it because it's his way of giving back. But then again, he finds hope in what he sees while behind that wig and beard. And frankly, in a world that might seem a little off-kilter and crazy at times, finding hope is not bad.     

In small towns, most people think most people know everyone else. And yes, in some cases that's more true than not. Of course, during Christmas that changes a little because most of the parents in the long lines have no idea who that Cowboy is behind that fake beard. They don't know if it's a neighbor or not. Of course, every once in a while, someone who knows will come along. And yes, there is that wink and nod, that knowing handshake, and a sense of camaraderie and pride between those knowing that the secret of who Santa really is is safe with them. 

While there may be one or two, most in that town have yet to learn who their Santa is. And though he has been a Santa for that small town for more than 20 years, it's a bit of a mystery that he sort of gets a kick out of.  

Of course, over the years, he has heard many Christmas wishes from children. He especially remembers a little girl who wanted a "flowery hat." When her mother heard that, she just about lost it since she had spent a great deal of money on other things that in reality meant very little to her daughter. As for the latest and greatest electronics, many have wanted the latest and greatest toy, electronic item, and fad for their kids. And yes, over the years, the old Cowboy has wondered if the parents bought the latest and greatest more for themselves -- than for their children. 

As for helping parents fulfill their children's wishes, the old Cowboy learned fairly quickly about the secret of relaying that information to the parents on the spot so they can help Santa fulfill their son or daughter's dreams. Yes, as you can see, there are good reasons why that old Cowboy is a great Santa.  

That's not to say there are no surprises. Some surprises come in the form of letters to Santa, while every once in a great while he'll be surprised by some of the replies to his question, "So tell me, what do you want for Christmas?" 

During the last few years, he's heard children say they didn't need much. He understood that it was a sign of the times. During hard times, especially with families struggling to afford gas and groceries, Christmas can be a very disappointing time of year. Two years ago, Santa met a teenager who asked him if he could find her father a job because he was laid off. She said, "Mom said we're not having much for Christmas because Dad's not working." Last year, a parent asked Santa to tell her children that he could "Only bring one present this year." 

Of course, he remembers a teenager who was no longer a child but still had that innocence that we all hope children maintain for as long as possible. She answered Santa's question of what she wanted for Christmas by saying, "I wish my family would be happy."  

Last night, Santa met with a lot of children and there was a lot of laughter. Again he watched the parents as they waited their turn in line. Everything was wonderful. Everything was perfect. A couple of children dropped off letters to Santa. One teenager told Santa that she was content with everything she had and she really wanted others to have more. When he told her that it was okay to want something for Christmas, she told him that she has a lot more than most -- and she thanks God for what she has. 

Santa nodded his head, pulled her close, and said, "You've been blessed. God Bless you!" 

After being Santa last night, the old Cowboy was tired. On the way home, he and his wife stopped at a grocery store. He waited in his truck as his wife went into a store to pick up a few things. When she returned to their truck, the old Cowboy had taken off his Santa wig, beard, and coat. He sat behind the steering wheel and was surprisingly quiet. 

At first, she just wrote it off as him being tired from meeting children for almost four hours. He was 70, and his wife knew it just wasn't as easy as it once was for him. Then, on the drive home, the old Cowboy's wife asked if everything was okay. 

He said he opened one of the letters to Santa that was given to them tonight by one of the children. He handed the open letter to his wife. She turned on the truck's overhead light and read it. It read, "Dear Santa, May I please have a PS5 PlayStation and my Mom back to Life."

She shook her head and tears welled in her eyes. She felt bad knowing there were so many people out there who were going through so much. While she knew how hard it is for people out of work and the cost of everything being so high, she also knew how Christmas is the hardest on those who have lost others. 

"Wow!" she said. "What do you think?" 

He said, "I'm thinking about how the road seems dark and icy tonight. It makes me think that I have to watch out for deer and other critters on the road better than I do. But it is clear out. There are a lot of stars tonight. I'm also thinking about an old man who I met back in the late 1990s at a Convalescent Hospital. I remember how he told the staff that he had a secret that he wanted to tell Santa. But, only Santa. When I got there dressed for the part, I found out that he had a request for Santa. I was told that it was very important to him. When I went to his room, I found out the old gentleman was dying and he knew it. And really, for whatever reason, he wanted Santa to pray for him. I nodded, and I did. I didn't know him, but I prayed for him. Right now, I'm thinking about that young girl who wrote to Santa, and about how different folks ask for prayers in different ways when they're down."

As for the ride home, it was dark that night, and not much more was said about the child's letter. By the time they got home, the wind picked up and the chill was piercing as he and his wife stepped out of the warmth of their truck. As his wife made her way into their home, he said he was going out to their barn to check on their animals. 

Their barn wasn't much of a barn, but it served the purpose. Once inside, he took a flashlight off a shelf and checked their horses. He then looked at their water to see if it was ice. The horses and their water looked fine for the night. He looked over at their pigs snuggled together. Listening, he heard the wind whipping up outside, a tree branch scratching his barn's tin roof, and soon he found himself a bale of hay to sit on. It was there that he put his hands together and prayed for the child who wanted her mother "back to Life." 

Sitting there for a few minutes, in his barn among his animals, in that very humble place where he feels the closest to God, a man who plays Santa for children and parents alike prayed so that child would never stop missing her mother. He prayed that she never stops wanting to see her, that she never forgets her mother's smile, her mother's kind eyes, the sound of her mother's voice. He prayed that she never ever loses her memory of her mother's loving ways, their shared laughter, their love. He prayed that one day down the road when age takes over, she would see her mother in a mirror in front of her.

The old Cowboy then took a long pause and looked around his stable. For a moment, he listened to the pigs' grunt and heard a snort or two come from his horses almost as if giving him their approval of his prayer. Then for a moment, he wondered if he had forgotten something in his prayer. 

For a moment, he thanked God for his memories of having coffee with his Dad, his grandma's cooking, and his grandpa's Cowboy ways. He thought about his prayers when they passed and how he asked God to help him never forget. 

He knew his request to God was huge. He knew he wanted that little girl to always have her Mom in her heart. And while he was sure her mother would stay there, he thought about how our memories fade as we get older. He wanted her to never forget. 

Of course, while he knew it was a huge request, he also knew such a prayer was not an impossible gift for God to grant a child with a broken heart. After all, God is in the business of miracles and love.  

So yes, my friends, a few days ago, though that old Cowboy was tired from a long night, though knowing he needed to go into his warm home and to bed, he again put his hands together, closed his eyes, and prayed that his prayer for that child would be heard. Not for himself, but for a small child. Just so she gets the gift she wants. Amen.

Tom Correa