As she sat looking out the classroom window, Joy realized it would be a long walk home. The snow, just gently falling that morning, had turned to a swirling mess of white. While the other students chattered along, playing games at the Christmas party, Joy’s only concern was staying warm on her walk.
The teacher smiled sweetly as the bell rang and exclaimed “Merry Christmas everyone”. Excited boys and girls ran to grab their coats and scurry out into the cold to hop in waiting cars. Joy carefully wrapped her homemade scarf around her neck and buttoned her coat. It wasn’t the warmest coat, but it was given to her by a neighbor, so she couldn’t complain.
As Joy walked to the door, she turned and ask “Teacher, will Santa come visit me this year?” Stunned, the teacher quickly replied “Oh Joy, I’m sure Santa will visit. You’ve been very good this year.” Joy wondered if the teacher could be right. Would Santa decide she had been good enough this year to visit?
Along the sidewalk was nothing but snow as Joy made her way to the apartment she shared with her mom and young sisters. Even the entrance way to the building was cold and snow-filled as she tromped with wet feet to her door.
“Take off those wet shoes and socks” her mother yelled as she opened the door. Joy took off the wet pieces and set them close to the radiator to dry. The old tile floor felt cold upon her feet as she plodded into the kitchen. Her mother smiled and ask “how was your day?”.
“Why doesn’t Santa visit me?”
The smile left her mother’s face as she saw the sadness in her daughter’s eyes. She pulled out a chair from the shabby table in the small kitchen and pulled Joy to her. As she unbuttoned the old coat she wore she said “Joy, Santa visits you every year. Santa visits all the good little boys and girls”.
“Then why does he not leave me anything?”
With a soft sigh, her mother explained. “Joy, Santa knows each and every one of us. He saves the best gifts for the best children. Do you know what the best gift you can get is?”
Joy shook her head no.
“It’s love”, her mother explained, “and that is what Santa leaves you each year, enough love to last the entire year.”
Joy hugged her mother and said “well, since you can’t see love, how do we know when Santa visits?”
Her mother smiled and quipped “because you feel it in your heart”.
Joy felt better as she drifted off to sleep that night under the blankets with her sisters. But as she shivered off the cold, she couldn’t help but wonder if what her mother said was true. With Christmas only days away, she wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.
When Christmas morning finally arrived, Joy awoke to shouts of “Merry Christmas” from her mother and sisters. The cold made it difficult for her to get out of bed, but she made her way across the cracked floor and into the living room.
There, stuck to the fake Christmas tree, was a red paper heart. It said: “Merry Christmas Joy, I only give these to the best little girls, Love Santa”.
Happiness welled up in the little girl’s heart. As she looked at her mother and sisters snuggling on the tattered couch, she realized that love truly is the best gift you can get. Nothing else could ever make her feel as good.
“Merry Christmas” Joy shouted and ran to join her family.