Holidays mean taking time off from working and studying and the opportunity to spend time with family. It’s called “the most wonderful time of the year” for a reason: families get to catch up and bond, preparations for the festivities are always fun, thoughtful presents are exchanged, good deeds are paid forward, name it, it all happens during Christmas.
The magical holiday may be synonymous with family time for most – but for John Dorroh, things were a bit different.
He remembers how, since he was little, his mom would always rush out on Christmas Eve. She’d always have her shopping bag and wallet with her, too. John recalls how this pattern became all too familiar that he even had the duration of her absence estimated – roughly three hours.
When asked about her curious habit of dashing out the door during the holidays, John’s dad offered a theory to the little boy:
“Well, maybe she forgot something.”
John was convinced that that was simply the case until he got older and felt that forgetting something on the same day each year (for three hours!) was pretty odd. That, and the fact that his mom would always finish her holiday shopping by August.
Whenever she would return from those quick trips, John and his dad would always ask her about it.
Her replies were always vague.
It took years after her passing for John to finally have the answers.
It came in the form of a letter penned by a man named Robert.
“Dear Johnny, I just wanted you to know how much my family and I appreciate what your mother has done for us for all of these years. Every year on Christmas Eve day your mom comes to my house dressed like Mrs. Claus and gives my kids a Christmas that we can’t afford to give them. She has given them shoes, shirts, jeans, toys, and candy. I know your heart is heavy and that you are missing Miss Sue. We do, too. We loved her and just wanted you to know what she has done for us. Love, Robert and Nellie and the kids.”
So that was the big secret!
John’s mom wasn’t doing last-minute shopping or going back for something she forgot – she was playing Mrs. Claus for sweet, innocent children whose parents coudn’t afford to give them presents.
Robert used to work with Sue Dorroh and was eternally grateful for how she would selflessly go out of her way to make Christmas extra special for him and his kids.
The most amazing part in all of this was the humility Sue showed – not wanting the spotlight to be on her, not wanting anyone to know just what she was up to during the holidays. She never craved recognition or gratitude, she simply wanted to make other people happy.
But the proud son couldn’t resist.
He felt like sharing his mom’s wonderful story with readers of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Christmas”.
His short piece entitled “Mom’s Secret Mission” would preserve the selfless deed forever, hopefully inspiring many others to pay it forward and make life happier for those around them.
Hear John tell the heartwarming story in the video below!
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