Finding Santa - A Must Read

I found the following true story as I was reading The Sandbox. I thought it was such a great read that I had to share it with you. It was written by Clara Hart, an RN who works in a military hospital in the states. You may read more by her at her home blog From Our Perspective.

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(Posted with permission from the auther).

Finding Santa by Clara Hart

“Ms. Clara?” came from the tiny voice at my side.

“Yes, Jonathan Matthew?” I responded.

“Do you think Santa will find me and Thomas here?” was the earnest question.

“Most definitely Santa will find you!” I assured my small friend. That comment was met with silence as the five-year-old boy contemplated the answer. The son of one of my wounded patients, he had climbed up to sit beside me as I sat in an alcove completing a chart.

“Are you sure, Ms. Clara?” pled Jonathan Matthew. “I mean, I’m not asking for me, you know? I’m asking for Thomas because he’d be really upset if Santa didn’t find him. He’s littler than me and this is his first Christmas.” Thomas was Jonathan Matthew’s two-month-old brother. “Do you suppose you could talk to him for me?”

“Talk to who?” was my perplexed response.

“Santa, Clara. Santa!” Jonathan Matthew disgustedly exclaimed. I felt a lump start to form in my throat as I looked down into his earnest face.

Not quite sure how to respond, I was momentarily lost for words. Not getting an immediate response caused Jonathan Matthew to tell me, “My mom says you’re an angel on earth, so I figured since I know angels talk to God you’d be talking to God too. And if you’re talking to God you gotta be able to talk to Santa.”

Oh Wow! Holy Hooeee. What do you say? Now I was truly at a complete and total loss for words and the lump in my throat had just grown. Eyes burning with tears, I cleared my throat and as I was ready to speak I saw Jonathan Matthew’s grandmother turn the corner. The expression on her face told me she had heard the conversation we were having.

“Hi, Grammie!” said this small boy, “Clara and me were talking about Santa and I was asking her to talk with him about making sure he found Thomas on Christmas,” all his words ran together. “Cuz mom says she’s an angel here on earth so if there’s anyone who can talk to Santa I know it’s her. And since I know she already talks to God to help Daddy get better it should be easy for her to talk to Santa.”

“Jonathan Matthew,” Grammie started to say. I quickly held up my hand to stop her flow of words.

“I’ll tell you what, Jonathan Matthew…” My voice broke and I had to clear my throat before continuing. “I’ll make absolutely sure Santa finds you and Thomas.”

“Cuz you’re an angel here on earth and you can do things like that, right?”

“Well, I’m not sure about the ‘angel here on earth’, but let’s just say I know the right people.”

“Ok, Ms. Clara, if you say so I know it will happen.” He leaned over, wrapped his small arms around my neck and squeezing said, “I don’t care what you say, you’re my daddy’s angel and I love you.” With that proclamation he abandoned his seat next to mine, grabbed his Grammie’s hand saying, “Let’s go tell Thomas Ms. Clara is gonna make sure Santa finds him.” Tears in her eyes she gazed at me, a silent “thank you” forming on her lips as she turned and followed Jonathan Matthew down the hall.

Trust me when I say I will do everything in my power to make sure two little boys receive a visit from Santa, if I have to go rent the red suit and beard myself!

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My Note:

The medical personnel who take care of the injured troops are often forgotten. They work long hours, that get longer everyday. The military hospitals are grossly understaffed, yet the level of care rarely suffers. The doctors, nurses, corpsmen and med techs who are not deployed are still heroes, just without the recognition.

Thank you, Clara, for loving on “our” loved ones. You’re truly a Hero.

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This will serve as my submission for Wrapped Emotions this week.