This story reminds us that no matter how bad off we think we are, there are others in greater need. And nothing reflects the spirit of Christmas more than someone who gives to others even when they have very little themselves. Dorothy from North Carolina wrote:

“It's been a few years ago now that through an unusual set of circumstances I met a dear Christian lady named Hilda N-----. Hilda had endured many hardships in life…Now, in her later years… she lived in abject poverty with…crippling arthritis. It was Christmas and I had a gift for Hilda. Mark and I were dating at the time and I asked him to go with me to Hilda's humble home… But it wasn't my gift that I've remembered all these years...it was HER gift, given liberally out of her poverty, that I will never forget.

She and I had exchanged gifts, her gift to me a small ceramic bell with a cross at the top from the dollar store. And then came the moment I cherish yet today. She looked at Mark apologetically and reached down into the cushion of the chair…fumbling until she finally retrieved a small, zippered change purse. Her gnarled, misshapen fingers (terribly twisted from the arthritis) moving slowly and with painful effort, she managed to open the purse… Finally, she turned to Mark and, pulling out a folded, crumpled $1.00 bill, she held it out to him.

Her soft, quiet voice and loving manner gave eloquence to the gesture. ‘I didn't know YOU were coming so I didn't have a gift for you. Here’, she handed him the dollar bill, ‘Merry Christmas.’

Tears sprang to my eyes as I knew what a sacrifice was represented in the giving of the dollar bill. Her heart of love and her desire to share the little she had gave her gift more meaning than a purse full of gold.”

Thank you, Dorothy, and Hilda, for reminding us that Christmas isn’t about what we get, it’s about what we give.

Phillis from Arkansas experienced a tough Christmas that truly made her appreciate why it’s more blessed to give than to receive:

“In 1989, my youngest daughter was in the hospital with a ruptured appendix. She was there for 28 days, and the doctor did not expect her to live. I was student teaching, and we were living on my husband's teaching salary of under $20000, and we had two other children. To say the least, money was tight, but we were praising the Lord that He had performed a miracle and our little girl was alive.

I had already told the children that Christmas was going to be very little, because of this money situation. Our church got together and had a money tree for us. They said people gave who never had given to any money tree. They collected over $400 to give to us...

This really humbled us. We had always been the ones to give to money trees, and it was very hard to be given to. It brought to mind that ‘it is more blessed to give than receive.’ We thanked God and the people for all they did to make my kids’ Christmas, but also my prayer was that I never had to be in the position where I had to receive rather than give. God has answered that prayer, and we feel blessed to be able to continue to give to the Lord's work.

That is such a memorable Christmas, because it shows how God's people came together to help their brothers and sister in Christ when there was a need. It continues to touch my heart to remember how much Christ and his people love each other.”

Reed from Texas also recalled a childhood Christmas when someone went above and beyond to make sure the kids had Christmas gifts. Or maybe that was just the real Santa:

“Our Christmas in the 1950's started at around the 10th of December. My mom would send all of us boys, four in all, out to the fields when we lived in the Kentucky countryside to find that perfect Christmas tree. It would be about four-to-five-feet tall. Dragging it back we could feel the magicial season excitement already stirring in our hearts.

With so little at the house all year, the thought of new toys and candy were enough to set the minds of our young souls on fire for the next 15 days and even after Christmas day. That Christmas Eve, after opening our traditional presents to each other (simple gifts, of course), the front door flew open and in walked Santa Claus with his big bag of presents.

Yelling out his best ‘HO HO HO,’ he asked us if we all had been good all year and of course we all answered yes, we had. He then opened his big bag and handed out each a nice toy and then closed his bag and headed to the door, but turned around and said for us to get to bed early and he will return for some more goodies for us to open in the morning on Christmas day. Waving goodbye, he shouted Merry Christmas to us all.

My mom told us for years later that she had no idea who that was and no neighbor would confess it was any of them!! Who was it, well, it was, of course, Santa Claus. Only he would have a key to our front door, right...??”

Finally, speaking of playing Santa, Jeff from Florida shared a hilarious story about both the joys and dangers of playing Santa’s helper:

“Dad had been the Mall Santa enough years that he earned the privilege to be the official Santa for the arrival to mark the beginning of the Holiday season. The Mall wanted to add extra special characters to add to the excitement. Dad asked if a friend and I would be interested, so Frosty and Rudolph were added to the arrival festivities. I was to be Frosty.

Shortly before Santa’s arrival, the three of us, in costume, were held in a secluded location waiting for the arrival signal. I have to admit I was excited and a bit nervous regarding the prospects of playing the part for the children anxiously waiting. When the signal was given, Santa, Frosty and Rudolph entered a large area at the center of the Mall.

In the middle of this area was a large waterfall and pool area near Santa’s chair. A crowd of several hundred children and parents were assembled. Santa was to make his way to his chair at Santa’s Workshop. Frosty and Rudolph were to mingle among the children and assist in forming a line to visit Santa.

The Frosty suit involved a large round fiberglass middle and head, Frosty’s mouth was a black screen through which I was to see and navigate through the crowd. As I maneuvered through the children, they were very excited to see Frosty (and) shake his hand, along with countless hugs. At this time, I had lost sight of Santa and had no idea where Rudolph was. Due to my excitement and the encounters with all the children, I began to lose my sense of direction, adding to my nervousness.

My vision makes it necessary that I wear glasses. Slowly, the heat being generated inside Frosty’s head caused condensation to fog my glasses. It was about this time that I remembered the waterfall and pool. Visions of Frosty falling into the water filled my head, adding to the anxiety and fogging my glasses even more. Since my face was completely encased inside Frosty’s head, I was unable to get to my glasses. I soon learned that if I took a deep breath and blow out of Frosty’s mouth, it would help lessen the fog on my glasses.

However, after taking several breaths and with great effort to exhale out of Frosty’s mouth, I began to get a little lightheaded. And all this time I could feel all the little hands touching and hearing how much they loved Frosty as I blindly wandered among the children. Trying very hard to remain in character and not ruin such a happy time, I realized I had to regain control.

Just then, I realized that I could rub my face against the inside of Frosty’s head and knock my glasses off. This, of course, improved my sense of direction, though still not very clear. I was able to continue Frosty’s journey through the throngs of children without incident and especially avoid falling into the waterfall pool.

Beginning the Holiday season with Santa’s arrival taught me many things that day, most importantly, the joyful rewards of seeing the Christmas spirit in children’s eyes as they got to see the wonder of Santa Claus and hug Frosty the Snowman with his magic hat and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”

Thanks, Jeff. I hope it also taught you that you’re going to keep playing Frosty, you’d better get contact lenses!