Long ago, in a sunny land by the sea, there lived a kind man named Nicholas.
Even when he was a boy, Nicholas loved God very much. His parents loved God too, and they had taught him that the very best thing a person can do is to help others. When his parents went to heaven, they left Nicholas a large sum of money. But Nicholas did not want to keep it all for himself. He decided to use it, quietly and secretly, to help people who were poor and sad.
In his town there lived a father who had three daughters, but no money at all. They were so poor that they did not even have enough food to eat, and the father did not know what to do. He was very worried and very sad.
When Nicholas heard about this poor family, he wanted to help — but he did not want anyone to praise him or thank him. So he thought of a secret plan.
One dark night, Nicholas crept quietly up to the family's house. He had a little bag full of gold coins in his hand. And — toss! — he threw the bag through the open window, and then he hurried away into the night before anyone could see him.
In the morning, the family found the bag of gold. They could hardly believe it! "Where did this come from?" they cried with joy. Now they had enough to eat, and enough to live.
But Nicholas was not finished. The next night, he came again, and tossed in a second bag of gold. And on another night, a third. Each time, he gave in secret, asking for no thanks at all.
The father was so amazed that one night he hid and waited, to see who their secret helper could be. And when he saw that it was Nicholas, he ran out and fell at his feet to thank him.
"Please," said Nicholas gently, "do not thank me. Thank God. And do not tell anyone what I have done." For Nicholas knew that the best kind of giving is the kind you do quietly, just out of love.
When Nicholas grew older, he became a bishop — a leader and shepherd of God's people — in a town called Myra. But becoming important did not change his kind heart. Once, when sailors were caught in a terrible storm at sea, they cried out for help — and Saint Nicholas calmed the waves and brought them safely home. And so he became a special friend to sailors, to travelers, and most of all to children.
When at last Saint Nicholas went home to heaven, the whole world remembered him. Even today, people give secret gifts to one another, just as he did — and that is where our tradition of giving presents began! But the most important thing to remember is this: we give gifts because God first gave us the greatest gift of all, His love.
So why not do something kind for someone in secret, the way Saint Nicholas did? You don't need to be thanked, or for anyone to know. Just do it out of love — and you will be following in the footsteps of the kind bishop who loved to give.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, pray to God for us!
Saint Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra about seventeen hundred years ago. He is loved all over the world for his kindness and generosity, and is remembered each year on December 6th. He is the saint who, long ago, became known as the gift-giver of Christmas.