SECRET SANTA
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In the mid-80's, stories of Santa sightings started to emerge from Kansas City. Except, instead of delivering presents on Christmas Eve night via sled and chimney, he appeared in person, handing out cash to those in need. In the early days, Santa would generously hand out $10 bills, but as the years passed, tens turned to twenties, and eventually twenties grew to hundreds. Some stories reported he was handing out ten thousand, twenty thousand, or thirty thousand dollars in a single day.As the years passed, the number of stories began to grow, but there was one strange detail: No one knew who he was. He diligently kept his actual identity a secret. People simply called him "Secret Santa."
With each passing year, Secret Santa became more and more famous. His story was covered by USA, Today, NewsWeek, FoxNews, and many other media outlets. He even appeared in costume on Oprah, but he kept his identity a secret.
Some years, he would even appear in different cities. One year, he appeared in Phoenix, and another in Las Vegas. After Hurricanes pelted Florida, he decided to visit the streets hit the worst. Likewise, in the days following 9/11, Secret Santa was spotted walking around the streets of New York City passing out tens of thousands of dollars.
A SECRET REVEALED
Eventually, the man behind the beard was diagnosed with cancer. He was content to let his secret die with him, but a local tabloid discovered his identity, and were going to reveal his secret. After meeting with his family, they convinced him that he needed to be the person to tell his story.So, he went to a local paper who had respectfully covered his efforts for years, and shared his story with them.
His name was Larry Stewart. He was a local millionaire who made his money through cable television and long-distance calling, but his identity is just the beginning of the story. His journey to become Secret Santa is truly incredible.
EARLY BEGINNINGS
Stewart came from humble beginnings. Born in 1948, he never knew his father, and his mother left at a very early age. This left his grandparents to raise him. They had little money. Much of their food was raised on their own land. Late at night, Stewart would occasionally steal bad eggs from a nearby farm just to fight hunger.
After college, in 1971, he got a job as a traveling salesman. Eventually, his company went out of business, but they neglected to inform him. He kept waiting for his checks to arrive in the mail. When they never came, eventually he found himself living on the street.
With no money to his name, and nowhere to go, he found himself living out of his car. As days went by, food became more and more scarce, and he became increasingly desperate. After 8 days of barely eating, he swallowed his pride and entered a church asking for charity. Unfortunately, the person over benevolence wasn't in that day, and they told him he would have to return the next day.
After college, in 1971, he got a job as a traveling salesman. Eventually, his company went out of business, but they neglected to inform him. He kept waiting for his checks to arrive in the mail. When they never came, eventually he found himself living on the street.
With no money to his name, and nowhere to go, he found himself living out of his car. As days went by, food became more and more scarce, and he became increasingly desperate. After 8 days of barely eating, he swallowed his pride and entered a church asking for charity. Unfortunately, the person over benevolence wasn't in that day, and they told him he would have to return the next day.
He'd swallowed his pride and that still wasn't enough. He was still starving. It was his lowest moment.
AN ACT OF KINDNESS
After several days without eating, and a failed attempt seeking charity from a church, Stewart concocted a plan to get a meal. He sniffed through all of his clothes to find the best smelling and looking outfit, and did his best to look as presentable as possible. He then plotted to enter a local dinner, eat breakfast, and then feign losing his wallet.
That day, he entered the Dixie Diner in Houston, Mississippi, and he ordered breakfast. The owner, Ted Horn, apparently noticed him as soon as he entered, and got strange vibe.
When Stewart finished his meal, he started to put on his performance. He patted his pockets and jacket, pretending to have misplaced his wallet.
Horn quickly figured out what was going on, but he responded differently than you'd expect. Instead of kicking Stewart out of the restaurant, shaming him, or forcing him to wash dishes, Horn walked up behind Stewart and pretended to pick up a $20 bill from behind his chair.
As he lifted the bill, he looked at Stewart and said, "Son you must have dropped this."
Stewart quickly grabbed the bill, and used it to pay for his food. As he left the diner, he was filled with both guilt and gratitude. He knew he was in the wrong, but he was so grateful for the undeserved gift he'd received. Stewart had stolen from Horn, and he responded by giving him $20 and saving his dignity; he'd done nothing to earn his mercy and grace.
As he left, he swore to himself, "If God ever puts him in a position to help others, I will do it."
With the money he had left over, he was able to travel to the next city where he could restart his life.
With the money he had left over, he was able to travel to the next city where he could restart his life.
DISCOVERING THE GIFT OF GIVING
Unfortunately, as time passed, he forgot that promise.
While life got better during the 70's, they weren't easy. In 1978, just days before Christmas, he was fired from his job. Then again, in 1979, he was fired immediately before Christmas.
Discouraged, Stewart went to a local drive-in restaurant to eat away his disappointment. It was a particularly cold night, and he noticed a car hop with a particularly thin and worn looking jacket. Instantly he thought to himself, "I thought I had it bad...she's out there in this cold making nickels and dimes."
Soon afterwards, he walked up to her and handed her a $20.
"Keep the change," he said with a smile as he handed her the money.
Her eyes quickly welled up with tears, and she looked him right in the eyes and said, "You have no idea what this means to me."
In that moment, in clicked in his head, "Yes I do know what this means to you." In that moment, he remembered the generosity shown to him, and the promise to help others that he had made.
With only $600 to his name, he went to his bank and pulled out $200 in fives and tens. He started driving the streets looking for anyone in need.
As the years passed, his wealth grew, and he was able to give away far larger amounts. He still gave to traditional charities, but he always wanted to also give directly to people with no conditions and no strings attached. Eventually he even started training up a second generation of Secret Santas to continue his legacy.
They estimate that he gave away $1.3 million just as Secret Santa, but no one really knows.
Hear him tell his own story HERE!
While life got better during the 70's, they weren't easy. In 1978, just days before Christmas, he was fired from his job. Then again, in 1979, he was fired immediately before Christmas.
Discouraged, Stewart went to a local drive-in restaurant to eat away his disappointment. It was a particularly cold night, and he noticed a car hop with a particularly thin and worn looking jacket. Instantly he thought to himself, "I thought I had it bad...she's out there in this cold making nickels and dimes."
Soon afterwards, he walked up to her and handed her a $20.
"Keep the change," he said with a smile as he handed her the money.
Her eyes quickly welled up with tears, and she looked him right in the eyes and said, "You have no idea what this means to me."
In that moment, in clicked in his head, "Yes I do know what this means to you." In that moment, he remembered the generosity shown to him, and the promise to help others that he had made.
With only $600 to his name, he went to his bank and pulled out $200 in fives and tens. He started driving the streets looking for anyone in need.As the years passed, his wealth grew, and he was able to give away far larger amounts. He still gave to traditional charities, but he always wanted to also give directly to people with no conditions and no strings attached. Eventually he even started training up a second generation of Secret Santas to continue his legacy.
They estimate that he gave away $1.3 million just as Secret Santa, but no one really knows.
Hear him tell his own story HERE!
HOW CAN YOU GIVE A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS?
Far too often, our cynical sides stops us from helping people we see who are in need. We blame them for their circumstances, we speculate as to their character, and we rationalize inaction.
This Christmas season, do a random act of kindness. Maybe it's giving away money, but maybe it's serving someone. Let's stop judging who is and isn't worthy of help, and let's start being the most absurdly generous people we can be.
Merry Christmas!
SOURCES:
http://www.daveramsey.com/article/remembering-secret-santa/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/11/18/secret-santa-must-give-up-hobby-giving-cash-to-pay-for-his-chemotherapy/
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-20-santa-secret_x.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/595073/posts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Stewart_(philanthropist)
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