There is something about Christmas that just seems to shine a light on our hearts and encourage most of us to do what we can to brighten someone’s day or create some kind of miracle. This holiday season has proven to be no different.

In addition to the usual programs like Adopt a Family through Combined Community Services, the Toys for Tots toy drive that puts new toys under the trees of children and The Salvation Army Angel Tree program, there are individuals who go out of their own way to help others.

Gage Cutler of Leesburg recently caught one such act of holiday cheer. Although we don’t know his name, a Kosciusko REMC employee made the best of an early morning accident on Monday. When a drunk driver crashed into a utility pole downing power lines, the jolly REMC employee donned a Santa hat and full beard to direct traffic while the lines were repaired.

Flagger Santa was said to be waving and having a jolly ole time making motorists smile.

Also out making her annual holiday rounds was Wonda Rogers of Warsaw. Rogers, as Santa, and her reindeer, her granddaughter Jessica Kintzel, started their tradition after the passing of her mother, Sylvia Hamilton, who died on Christmas Eve 1997.

Each year, Rogers and her reindeer – made up of family members – visit nursing homes, hospitals and other senior facilities spreading holiday cheer.

Wonda Rogers continued her Christmas tradition by dressing as Santa Claus and traveling all over Warsaw passing out candy canes. (Photo by Shauna Perkins)

“On the morning of Christmas Eve, I found myself wraping eight boxes of chocolate covered cherries for my brothers and sisters in the nursing home at Mason’s where my mom had been for 11 days,” said Rogers. “I don’t know how this idea came about, except I knew we all loved our Mom so much so, that I could feel their pain. Mom went to her eternal home in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve. My only thought was, ‘We must carry on’.”

On that Christmas Eve day in 1997, Rogers and her granddaughter took the boxes of chocolates to the nursing home and have kept the tradition alive each year since. Although it has changed a bit, the tradition now includes Rogers and Kintzel setting out Dec. 1 and making their rounds the entire month of December putting smiles on faces and handing out candy canes all over Warsaw.

Finally, we have learned of one other act of extreme kindness that happened just today at Sherman and Linn’s Grocery on Winona Avenue, Warsaw. One of the store employees tells StaceyPageOnline.com that an older gentleman entered the store and handed a $50 bill to one of the employees. He then walked through the store and handed another $50 to a customer. “The gentleman turned and headed to the door and turned back around and said ‘Merry Christmas to everyone!’ and walked out,” said Deb Sparkman. “A true example of a miracle was seen in our store today! This brought tears to the women who received the money and the onlookers who watched this happen. God blessed the wonderful man and he shared with others today! Praise God for miracles … even in today’s world!”

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!