“A man walked in today for a Santa photo holding something in his arms. ‘I have a request,’ he said, turning around this picture frame.
He took a moment. ‘My son passed away, last year.’ He choked up and couldn’t finish his sentence. The entire photo set was silent. I said, ‘Absolutely.’
Without anyone saying anything, he handed me the frame and I placed it on my knee. In the photo, I could see on the little boy’s armband that his first name was Hayden. I didn’t ask any questions, but I am guessing this is his first photo with Santa.
The camera snap was the only sound I could hear throughout the entire mall. Normally, I hear all kinds of music and sounds, but it was absolutely silent.
After a handful of clicks, we walked over to the screen and he pointed, saying, ‘That’s the one.’
The girl working the computer printed him a full photo package and he pulled out his wallet, saying that this was going to be his gift to his wife. We gave him the printed package, telling him it was a gift and that we would be praying for his family, this Christmas.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me in and hugged me, then turned around and left. As he walked out, we all had tears in our eyes. I’m sharing this to remind us all that Christmastime is unbelievably hard for some families.
Pray for the brokenhearted. Smile at people. Just be kind. Love one another.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Caleb Ryan Sigmon. Join the Love What Mattera family and subscribe to our newsletter.
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