Dec. 6: Secret Santa Saves

It’s become an annual tradition for CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman to visit with “Secret Santa,” an anonymous businessman who travels the country at Christmas time randomly handing out $100 bills.  The accompanying news stories highlight our power to help others.

For instance, in 2011, “Secret Santa” gave money to 30-year-old Thomas Coates, a drug addict who “hocked his own son’s toys for drug money.”  Coates’ girlfriend had recently asked him to say a prayer to God asking for help.  He did.  Then, “Secret Santa” showed up and handed him $100.

“It’s amazing,” Coates said. “That to me was a miracle. That was God saying, ‘Alright, you had enough now. I’m going to show you something.’ So from here on out it’s up to me.” Coates has since checked himself into a treatment center.

“Secret Santa” points out the lesson in all this: “We can change the world one random act of kindness at a time.”

We always pray for you, asking that our God will…fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith.  (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

O God, nurture my spirit of generosity.