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My Take on This: Kind deeds done with heart and willingness are a blessing to behold

Christmas has been over for a few weeks now, but there is an amazing person I would like to acknowledge. A special heartfelt thanks goes out to him.

And I’m sure you will know who you are after reading this article. [That is, if you read my articles. With so many devoted followers of this paper, my odds are indeed high that you will read it. In any case, I’m counting on it. I mean, how else will you know what I write about you? I suppose I could tell you in person, but I’ll save that for my second option.]

I was invited to a Christmas party given by you. I was super-excited to be invited. Life is so busy that the holidays are about the only time of the year friends see each other.

Most everyone has heard of a game called “Dirty Santa.” A price is set, and each guest buys a gift that would be good for either gender, male or female. Numbers are draw to determine who selects a gift first. The “dirty” part is when you get a chance to steal a gift from someone that they didn’t want to give up. Sometimes an opportunity will arise for you to get your gift  back.

[The fun part of this game is that you’re never sure what gift you’ll end up taking home. If you’ve never played it, you should add it to your agenda for next Christmas.]

Well, that’s the way I’ve always played it, but the subject of today’s column has his own unique rules. As I walked into the party and saw the welcoming Christmas tree, I couldn’t help but notice all the wrapped presents underneath it. I felt so embarrassed because I’d not been told to bring a gift.

Later on, I was asked to draw a number, but I told the party host that I hadn’t brought a gift. After he repeated himself, I did as I was told. I asked another friend about all this, and he told me that no one brought gifts.

Well, I knew somebody did.

Just in case you’ve not figured it out yet, my mystery friend had purchased all the gifts for everyone to play that game. I was so overcome by the generosity and the giving nature of such an unselfish gesture. Emotion took over my heart.
I came so close to crying. I am 61 years old and have never seen anything like this in my life. It was such an overwhelming experience.

My friend had another game or two planned, and each winner received another prize that he had personally contributed. The other guests had shared Christmas get-togethers with him before and seemed used to all of this. But for me, I have the same thoughts and emotions each time I remember it.

It’s such a blessing to see such kind deeds performed with heart and willingness. I’ve never known of anyone getting so much joy from giving like he does. The magnitude of this is just a small part of who he is.

He is not a fair-weather friend—not even close. He is my “all-weather” friend. He always returns my calls and my texts. I fail him sometimes with this, but aging has its disadvantages. I forget a lot. [Hey, he’s a lot younger than me.] He’s always had the memory of an elephant, but that’s okay. If he needs my help, he knows to only ask for one thing at a time.

I do want to thank you for your friendship. It means more than you will ever know. There is one guarantee you will always have throughout your life. You will always have many friends, because you are a friend to so many. May God bless you and your family.

P.S. I’ve kept you a secret only because I feel you’d prefer it that way. Besides, what’s done in Russellville stays in Russellville, right? [Yeah, we know that’s true. Ha!]

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