On Christmas Eve a young boy with light in his eyes 
looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise,
And said as he sat on Santa's broad knee "
I want your secret. Tell it to me."
He leaned up and whispered in Santa's good ear 
"How do you do it, year after year?

"I want to know how, as you travel about, 
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out. 
How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys 
You have plenty for all of the world's girls and boys? 

How is it that sack on the back of your sleigh
Is full, never empty, as you make your way
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small, 
From nation to nation, reaching them all?"

And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
"Don't ask me hard questions. Don't you want a toy? 
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see 
That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me,"
He told the small boy with the light in his eyes, 
"My secret will make you sadder and wise. 

"The truth is that my sack is magic inside,
It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride. 
But though I do visit each girl and each boy,
I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy. 
Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad, 
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad. 
Some homes are broken, and children there grieve. 
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?

"My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives, toys aren't enough. 
So I tiptoe in, kiss each girt and boy,
And pray with them that they'll be given the joy 
Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

"If only God hears me and answers my prayer, 
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love 
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.
It's a very hard task, my dear little brother,
To give toys to some, and give prayers to the others, 
But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed, 
For God has his own way of meeting each need. 

"That's part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth, 
Is that my sack is magic. And that is the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve Day 
More love than a Santa could ever give away. 
The sack never empties of love, or of joys 
'Cause inside it are prayers and hope, not just toys. 
The more that I give, the fuller it seems
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

"And do you know something? You've got a sack, too. 
It's as magic as mine, and its inside of you.
It never gets empty, its full from the start.
It's the center of light and love; it's your heart. 
And if, on this Christmas, you want to help me, 
Don't be so concerned with the gifts 'neath the tree. 
Open the sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care. 

The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing. 
"Thanks for your secret. I've got to be going." 
"Wait, little boy," said Santa. "Don't go.
Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?" 
And just for a moment the small boy stood still, 
Touched his heart with his small hand and whispered, 
"I will."

Betty Werth

This poem was given to me on Christmas Eve by Karen. It was their pastor's (FR O'Mera) message in their parish bulletin of Dec. 23rd.