Dear Santa

I have a friend, Jane, who’s a teacher.   With her permission, I share this, knowing you’ll join me in prayer after you’ve read it.  —

Dear Santa . . . . . That’s always one of our big writing projects for Christmas.

I always tell them that the letter they write in my room is not their greed list. It’s a list where we ask for others.

First, we ask to help those we don’t know that need help. There were lots of request to help the tornado victims from the recent tornadoes. A lot also asked for pets to find homes. They said animals deserve a place to live and a family to love them.

Next, we ask for gifts for someone in our family that doesn’t live with them. I am haunted by the request that said, “Could you send Granny  some extra money to get Granddad out of jail.”  

Last, they ask for gifts for someone in their home. Tears rolled down my face as I read the one that said “Please help Mommy find a job because she needs money really bad.”

The letters usually end with a “I will leave you milk and cookies.” Except for one that said, “I will be the one without the Christmas tree.”

Then I allow them to write a P.S. where they may ask for one gift for themselves.

These letters have a two-fold purpose. They allow the students to learn empathy for others, and even more importantly, the letters allow me to have empathy for my students.

I sometimes feel so helpless for this is a strong reminder that not all kids come from a home like I grew up in or like my grands live in now. So I wipe my eyes, hug those who need hugged, and say a prayer that each child will see Love come down at Christmas. And I will try to do my part . . . . . for each little child entrusted to me.