A few days before Christmas a young boy was in line to see Santa. Finally it was his turn to climb on Santa’s knee. With a light in his eyes he looked deeply into Santa’s. The young boy leaned close and to Santa’s surprise, whispered in Santa’s good ear, "I want your secret. How do you do it year after year? I want to know how you travel around, giving gifts all over and never run out. How is it, Santa, that in your pack of toys you have enough gifts for all the girls and boys? How do you keep your sack full as you fly through the night from house to house, state to state and country to country, reaching everyone?"

And Santa smiled kindly and said to the child, "Don’t ask me hard questions. Don’t you really want a toy?" But the young one shook his head and Santa could see that he really wanted to know.

"Now listen to me," Santa said. "My secret will make you both sadder and very wise. The truth is that my sack is full of magic. It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride. And even though I visit every boy and girl, I don’t always leave them a gaily-wrapped toy. Some homes are happy and full of love. Some homes are hungry, while others are sad. Some homes are desperate and some are bad. Other homes are broken and children mourn. All these homes I visit, but what should I leave?"

"My sleigh is filled with goodies, but for homes where toys aren’t enough, I tiptoe in and kiss each child. I pray that they’ll be given the joy of the Spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives in the heart of each dear child who gets not, but gives."

"If Spirit hears me when I visit next year, I will find there the answers to my prayers: the homes filled with peace, and with giving and love. It is a difficult task, little one, to give toys to some and give prayers to others. But the prayers are gifts, and great ones to be sure, for Spirit has his own way of meeting each need."

"That’s part of the answer and that is the truth. Yes, my sack is magic and in it I carry more love than a Santa could ever give away. The sack never empties of love, or of joys. Because, you see, the sack is filled with prayers and hope, and not just those toys. But the more that I give, the fuller it seems because giving to others is a way of fulfilling someone's dreams."

The boy listened quietly and then Santa said, "And do you know something? You’ve got a sack, too. It’s as magic as mine, but it’s inside of you. It never gets empty but is always full. It’s the center of light and of love, and it is right here in your heart. If you want to help me this Christmas, don’t spend all your time with the toys under the tree. Open the sack called your heart and share your joy, your friendship, your wealth and your care."

The light in the small boy’s eyes was glowing. "Thanks for your secret," he said, "and I have to get home."

"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "Will you help? Will you use what you know?"

For just a moment the boy stood still, and then with his small hand over his heart, he said, "I will."