The Fun of Caring
Grade Level K

Leader Hints: Think of how compassion and giving has helped you in your career and your life. Were there times you were not compassionate that hurt you? Think of how others' compassion helped you. Think of how others' lack of compassion hurt you. Your students need to know that compassion is important to you. By jotting down these formative life experiences before the lesson, you'll have them to share during the discussion time.

The Secret Santa

Years ago, a man lost his job. Before he could find a new job, his money ran out and he had to sleep in his car for eight days. After two days of not eating, he was getting pretty hungry. So he went to a restaurant called the Dixie Diner, where he ordered a big breakfast. Of course, he had no money to pay for it, so he acted like he’d lost his wallet.

The cook, Tom Horn, who owned the restaurant, figured out that the man was having hard times, so he acted like he’d found a $20 bill and said, “Son, you must have dropped this.” He gave the poor man the money, so that he wouldn’t be embarrassed at his lack of money. (Hint: Actually take a bill, act like you found it, and act like you’re handing it to someone as you tell this part of the story. Visuals keep their attention.)

That was a pretty nice thing to do, wasn’t it? But the story doesn’t end there. Twenty-eight years later, the cook, by this time an eighty-five year old man who was taking care of his sick wife, got a knock at his door. Mr. Horn opened it to find the man he’d given the $20 to years earlier, standing there with a Santa Clause hat on. He wasn’t poor any longer. Now a successful businessman, he was grateful to the cook for helping him when he had no money.

He asked how much Mr. Horn thought the $20 might be worth after all those years. Mr. Horn just laughed and jokingly said, “Probably $10,000.” The man in the Santa hat handed Mr. Horn $10,000 in cash. Pretty cool, huh?

But that’s still not the end of the story. The man in the Santa hat had so much fun giving, that he gives away around $25,000 in $100 bills around Christmastime each year. He’s called Secret Santa. After New York was attacked and the big buildings collapsed, he went to New York and handed out $100 bills to people who needed cheering up. He isn’t looking for thanks or praise. He doesn’t even give out his name. It’s just fun to give. In his own words, “Isn’t it fun to lift people up and see the smiles on their faces?”

Discussion

1 - Do you think it was hard for the cook, Mr. Horn, to give away a meal to the man with no money? What might other people have done?

2 – Do you think giving away the food made Mr. Horn feel good?
3 – How did Mr. Horn’s giving pay off years later?

4 – Why do you think “Secret Santa” gives away $100 bills, when he could keep the money and buy stuff for himself?