----- Original Message ----- From: "MARIE FULLER" <[email protected]> To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 10:47 AM Subject: A very good story
> > > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Santa and Sarah >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmo ther came to see Santa >> At the Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin . The child climbed up on his lap, >> holding a picture of a little girl. "Who is this?" asked Santa, smiling. >> >> "Your friend? Your sister?'" "Yes, Santa,' he replied. "My sister, >> >> >> >> Sarah, who is very sick," he said sadly. >> >> Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and >> saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "She wanted to come with me >> >> >> >> >> to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!" the child exclaimed. >> "She misses you," he added softly. >> >> Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy's face, >> asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. >> When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help >> the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but >> halted. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> "What is it?" Santa asked warmly. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> "Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa, but ..." the >> old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's >> >> >> >> >> elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young >> visitors. >> "The girl in the photograph... my granddaughter well, you see ... >> she has leukemia and isn't expected to make it even through the >> holidays," she said through tear-filled eyes. >> >> >> >> >> "Is there any way, Santa. any possible way that you could come >> >> >> >> >> see Sarah? That's all she's asked for, for Christmas, is to see >> Santa." >> >> >> >> >> >> Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave >> information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see >> what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that >> afternoon. >> >> >> >> >> He knew what he had to do. >> "What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying," he >> thought with a sinking heart, "This is the least I can do." >> >> >> >> >> >> When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that >> evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where >> >> >> >> >> Sarah was staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to >> >> >> >> >> get to Children's Hospital. >> >> >> >> >> >> "Why?" Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face. >> >> >> >> >> >> Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother >> earlier that day. "C'mon.....I'll take you there." Rick said softly. >> Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. >> They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would >> >> >> >> >> wait out in the hall. >> >> Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and >> saw little Sarah on the bed. >> >> >> >> >> >> The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the >> Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met earlier that day. >> A wom an whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood by the bed, >> >> >> >> >> gently pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead. >> >> >> >> >> >> And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in >> >> >> >> >> a chair near the bed with a weary, sad look on her face. They were >> >> >> >> >> talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of >> >> >> >> >> the family, and their love and concern for Sarah. >> >> >> >> >> >> Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered >> the room, bellowing a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!" "Santa!" shrieked little >> Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IV >> tubes intact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. >> A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old -- gazed up at >> him with wonder and excitement. >> >> >> >> >> >> Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches >> from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked >> >> >> >> >> at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had >> >> >> >> >> to force himself to choke back tears. >> >> >> >> >> >> Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the >> gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room. >> >> >> >> >> >> As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the >> bedside one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully, >> >> >> >> >> whispering "Thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining >> eyes. >> >> >> >> >> Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all >> the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good >> >> >> >> >> girl that year. >> >> >> >> >> >> As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray >> for >> Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in >> >> >> >> >> agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding >> hands. >> >> >> >> >> Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in >> angels. "Oh, yes, Santa... I do!" she exclaimed. >> >> >> >> >> >> "Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you." he said. Laying >> one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He >> asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. >> >> He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when >> he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing, >> softly, >> "Silent Night, Holy Night.... all is calm, all is bright..." >> >> "The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and >> crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed >> at them all. >> >> >> >> >> >> When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held >> Sarah's frail, small hands in his own. "Now, Sarah," he said >> authoritatively, >> >> >> >> >> "you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I >> want >> you >> >> >> >> >> to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see >> you >> >> >> >> >> at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!" >> >> >> >> >> >> He knew it was risky proclaiming that to this little girl who had >> terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to give her the greatest >> gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of HOPE. >> >> "Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright. He leaned down and >> kissed her on the forehead and left the room. >> >> >> >> >> >> Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed >> between them and they wept unashamed. >> >> >> >> >> >> Sarah's mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and >> rushed to Santa's side to thank him. >> >> >> >> >> >> "My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. >> "This is the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and >> >> >> >> >> hugged him. >> >> >> >> >> >> One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee >> for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks >> went=2 0by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. >> >> "Hi, Santa! Remember me?!" "Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as >> he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a >> >> >> >> >> "good" Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the >> "only" >> >> >> >> >> child in the world at that moment. >> >> >> >> >> >> "You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped. >> Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little >> miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely >> recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were >> rosy -- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year >> before. >> >> >> >> >> He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines >> >> >> >> >> smiling and waving and wiping their eyes. >> >> >> >> >> >> That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. >> >> >> >> >> >> He had witnessed --and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing >> about -- this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. >> Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and >> humbly whispered, "Thank you, Father. 'Tis a very, Merry Christmas!" >> >> < span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If you believe in >> miracles you will pass this on...I did! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> God will never bring you to a place he cannot bring you through >> >> >> >> >> >> Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, >> Speak Kindly and Leave the Rest to God >> >> >> >> >> ____________________________________ >> One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and >> Yahoo >> Mail. _Try it now_ (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolco >> m40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025) . >> >> >> >> ____________________________________ >> Listen to 350+ music, sports, & news radio stations – including songs >> for >> the holidays – FREE while you browse. _Start Listening Now_ >> (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000013) >> ! >> **************Stay up-to-date on the latest news - from fashion trends to >> celebrity break-ups and everything in between. >> (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000024) > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1871 - Release Date: 1/1/2009 > 5:01 PM > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. 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