Dr. Paul McDonald and Kathleen Daniels are co-hosts for the ActiveRain December challenge Acts of Kindness | Sharing Love & Joy This Holiday Season and this is my first post.
When I was young my Dad woke me up on Christmas morning and said I should go with him for a ride. I asked where we were going and he said it was a surprise and I would play a part. When you are young you don't ask a lot of questions about a request from a parent. So off we went, but where?
At the time we lived in the city of Chicago with my grandparents in a 2 flat. The grandparents lived upstairs and we were on the first floor. About a half hour into the trip, I figured out that we were heading for a small summer home on the Fox River in Cary, Illinois. When I asked why, my Dad said we were going to check on the place.
When we got there he passed it by and went to the home of a neighbor who had five children and little money. My Dad hired the father for handyman jobs whenever he could even though he knew he was not the handiest man available.
Before we got to their driveway he stopped and told me my job. He was going to put the toys he purchased on the front stairs and then I was to go to the back door and knock. When they answered I was to ask "why did Santa Claus leave your gifts at the front door and not come in"? The kids bolted for the front door and the parents and I followed. You should have seen the look on my friend's faces. I will never forget it!
As they picked up their presents and looked out there sat my Dad in the car with a big smile on his face. The father invited him in for coffee (they did things like that back in the 50's) and wanted to thank him. He denied being the source of the presents and said we were there to check the summer home and just stopped by to say "Merry Christmas"..
Driving back to Chicago I asked what made him do it? His response, "I just wanted to feel good about myself today". Years later at my Dad's wake, Danny, who was my age, asked if my Dad was really the source of the toys? My response was "no" and he let it go. Guess I learned my lesson about feeling good.
Thank you Paula and Kathleen for the contest. It brings back wonderful memories.
Comments(45)