Touching zero

As I was out walking today, I remembered a part of my story that occasionally gets told… and in remembering, I got back in touch with a part of me that I had forgotten….

Back in 1999 I was part of a massive programme to rebuild Unilever’s email infrastructure before the end of the year – something about not being ‘Year 2000 compliant’, and also about saving shed loads of money over the old system. Around that time, I was dating one of the consultants in the Unilever Corporate Centre, and so I had my New Year celebration all mapped out. Until we broke up just before Christmas, and I was left facing a pretty lonely New Year. I ended up in our IT offices watching the non-event that the Millenium Bug turned out to be… and, since Australia and Japan had pretty much proved we weren’t going to have a problem, left at around 10pm to go off to my hotel.

Now, hotel rooms on Millenium eve were pretty hard to come by. I had to book a room for two, at a black tie ball, just to get a room (thank goodness for expenses – think it cost around £300 for one night’s hotel). I had a really lonely evening and as I sat watching the fireworks, I decided one thing. I was going to get a life. I was going to get my own story. And I was never going to rely on anyone else for my happiness……

A few days later I joined Spice, a national adventure group. I learned to ski – and then to snowboard. I did self defence and bodyguard training. I got my karate black belt – and second dan black belt too. I rafted the Colorado River. I trekked the High Inca Trail. I learnt Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy. I studied Hawai’ian Huna and Personal Coaching. I started my own business. I wrote a couple of books. I became a really great coach and leader. I fell in love again. And out of love again (damn!). I learned to dance. I got back in touch with a spiritual world that I thought I had left behind. I made some incredible, wonderful friends. Somewhere along that path, I got back in touch with the real me.

I got myself a story. I became more of who I knew I was… and I set out on an adventure. That adventure isn’t over, even if some days it feels like it. Some days it feels bloody hard to live this life… and yet these are some of the most exciting times to be alive in.

So, I plan on living this life to the full. I plan on having adventures. I plan on taking risks. I plan on having fun. And along that path, I plan on helping people and loving people – and I plan on helping other people find their story. I plan on helping them get in touch with the truth of who they truly are, the awesome, incredible, wonderful, blazing, powerful beings that each of us is… at our core.

Some of that will come from some amazing events and products that I am putting together (coming soon) – and some of it will come from just being with others. Hang on to your hats..

Shameless plug – for more details of my coaching and training programmes, check out www.heartstorm.org

I was listening to the Top Gun soundtrack the other day, and as I listened to ‘Through The Fire’ I remembered just how much I had learnt from this song.

I will take it to the wire now
Until every race is run
I’ll go straight into the fire now
Until every day is done
Voices say — break away
Live each night as if each moment
Was the only one

Through the fire
To the wire
When the night out of control
Is breaking your heart
Through the fire
To the wire
When the flames are burning hot
They take you higher
Through the fire

There’s a feeling that I can’t ignore
Like a stranger at my door
So revealing that I cannot hide
When you settle up the score
Voices say — night and day
Live your life as if each second
Was the final one

I look for signs that you are here tonight
When the passion calls the pleasure to the flame
Then I ask you of the meaning when you talk of love
Would you take the leap of faith?
Would you throw it all away?

There are times when it seems that everything is spinning completely out of control – when nothing seems to be going right. Right now it seems that’s happening to so many of my friends. Things that they used to rely on have disappeared from their lives – some have found marriages ending, careers disappearing – others have lost friends, or split up with lovers. And there doesn’t seem to be any reason for it.

I don’t know quite why it seems to be happening. But I do know that through the fire comes something new. Through the pain and the searing heat of the fire, something is created. Things that don’t really matter are burnt away, while things that do matter remain – and are stronger. Just as fire creates steel, so the pain in our lives leaves us more powerful and more resilient.

I’ve looked into the fire many times over the last 12 months or so – and yet, I know that I am bigger, better, stronger, more powerful, more resilient, more capable, more loving, more compassionate than before. Something has changed in my life – and that’s what I am seeing in the lives of my friends too.

We’re being taken to the wire. To the very edge of our being. Our souls are calling us to do something new, something exciting… and in order for that to happen, everything that is not essential is being burnt off, as we learn to live from our hearts, from the core of our beings.

And so… are you prepared to live your life as if each second was the final one? To wring so much joy and passion out of each minute, to enjoy life to the full. Not to live in the past, whether we live in the memory of past glories or we give ourselves excuses as to why we aren’t living the life of our dreams right now. Not to live in the future – either in fear of what might be, or in anticipation of what could be. But to live, in the moment, right now… enjoying what IS.

So… will you take the leap of faith? Will your risk it all to live on the edge… where the dream is real….? Will you walk with me into a truly exciting new world?

PS

COMING SOON

Well, it took me a while, and I can’t say that the path to the next steps for me has been particularly easy – or comfortable – but it’s time to get out there and make some things happen. So, yes, I have decided that t’s time . . .for this.

EVENTS

I’ll soon be announcing some new events that I’ll be running: these have got me really excited, and I’m looking forward to working with many of you and with many other people too as we create some really cool things together.

“Be The Gift – a New Spirituality for a New World” – this regular event, initially in the Birmingham area, simply seeks to bring people together to explore the world, the Universe, and our place in it.. and to look at what we can give back. This is a true inter faith group, and while we will be exploring spirituality and our relationship with God, we will be doing that without dogma, without religiosity, and with openness, love and compassion. I’m hoping to take that further afield in the near future too.

“Two Close to the Edge” is a workshop I am working on in partnership with divorce coach Jackie Walker (www.breakupangels.com). We’re going to be looking at relationships, particularly where one or both partners may be considering separation or divorce, and helping them take decisions that put them back in charge of their life.

“Marketing for Therapists” is another workshop I am putting together with my good friend Roy Martin MBE (www.thejoyforlifecompany.co.uk). Roy and I have a passion for helping people get a head start in the business of helping people – so we’re going to help a select group of therapists to make a massive difference to their practice – and to the world. I’m assisting Roy on a number of his other programmes too over the next few months.

I’m working on some other workshops, and a retreat with my good friend Kim Rossi, too – all great stuff and I’ll let you have the full skinny as soon as we’ve finalised things.

PROGRAMMES

“Heart Storm Coaching” is a programme I am creating to bring effective and yet affordable coaching to people who really want their lives to step up a gear. Through working on line and via telephone, we’re going to be able allow you to cut through the chit-chat and change your life.

IT’S REAL. AND IT’S LOVELY.

We’re gearing up for a July launch of “Really Lovely Ltd”, the web site and brand that I’ve been working on in Sutton Coldfield. It’s going to be huge….

RELAUNCHES

Meanwhile, I’m going to be relaunching my “Breakthrough to Wealth, Health and Happiness” and “Confident Power” courses. They’re going to be drawing on some of the amazing (and painful) learnings that I have had over the last 12 months – helping you to get even more success – and even more of what you want out of life. And we’re also going to be finding ways to use my books “Jump Start Your Coaching Business” and “Free Your Mind” in new ways too.

Please bear with me – I’m trying to get my shopping cart into shape, but if you want any of the products at www.heartstorm.org – please just mail me and we’ll get it sorted out. When the cart is up and running – I will let you know. But this isn’t a sales letter, anyway.

While I’ve been busy posting on my blog at www.touchingzero.com, my newsletter has been sadly neglected – so I am going to bring that up to date with a bit more bite and punch. And when that’s up and running – I’ll let you know again! And there’s going to be a great offer available too!

ONE TO ONE

And I’m still available for one to one work – drop me a line at tim@heartstorm.org and let’s talk about what you want to change… and how I can help you.

AND FINALLY

Well, this is all a huge slew of stuff to create.. and I have some incredible friends who are going to be making sure I deliver. Thankyou for your help, your encouragement, your love, and your compassion… and for delivering the necessary kick up the backside when required. You are incredible, people, and I love every single one of you.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been looking at my life, and working out what I wanted to do with it. It’s not been easy… some of the time it’s been quite dark, quite painful and I have felt the harsh winds of loneliness and failure tear into me quite keenly. I’ve looked at where I have got myself to and wondered if there was really anything for me to contribute to this world.

And yet some of my friends have had other ideas. They have never stopped believing in me, and in my gifts. They’ve never stopped believing in who I am.. and I’ve learned to listen.

You see, I found out that Life hadn’t let go of me. In fact, let’s be very honest about this from the get-go… GOD hadn’t let go of me.

And one of the ways that she lets me know that I am still being loved and still being held is through other people. People who love me enough to tell me the truth. People who remind me just who I am. People who care. Like the precious friend who reminded me “Thank you for being the warm, kind, gentle, intelligent person that you are and for being in my life. You make it a much richer place.” And that’s what led me to some decisions…. Of which more in another post.

So while I was lost in a fog of not knowing what I wanted to do… there were some other people who still believed in me. As one of them wrote “Well, no way do I see you as battered and defeated…you are one of the most amazing people I have ever met. You have had some crap thrown at you but yes you are still here and here with a purpose. You inspire me and those around you.” Even when I had to drop out of the Inter Faith Seminary, one of the leaders had the grace to tell me “Your clarity, strength, courage, tenderness and praise of the group touched my heart. You are here for some pretty important work and I will always hold you in my vision as a positive beacon of light”

And someone else reminded me.. “You have one of the most beautiful spirits I have ever met and you need to share this with the world, for the world and for your self. When you speak people listen, when you go on a journey, they follow. They do this because you are there with them, what you see and feel they will also. You do this not because that’s what you are paid to do but because you feel it with every fibre of you. Never lose sight of this. You make a difference in the world in every moment that you are here. You are brave, strong, courageous, loving, and so many other things that only God and your angels know”.

So I had to think about a few things, and decide – do I still have something to bring to the world? Do I still have a gift to bring? Sounds like a ‘yes’ to me….. especially when I was introduced at a recent event as “probably the best at what he does in the world”

So it’s time to agree with one of my colleagues, who advised me that “The mighty is still the mighty” and another who simply said “this is the year – the rest were just preparing the groundwork to see who has the courage and stamina to keep going and have personal faith.”

So to my beautiful, beautiful friends… you may never know just how important your faith has been. You may never know what you have changed in my life. But I am humbled. And grateful.

Now I just want to pause for a moment and tell you straight – I’m not writing these things to tell you how great I am. I’m writing these things to tell you that even when it seems darkest… there are plenty of people who are rooting for you.

So here’s the message.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve been through. What’s happened to you is simply ‘What is’ as my son reminded me. Look beyond it. Look to the future. Look to what could be. Decide that you’re going to live life differently. Decide that things are going to change. Decide Who You Are. And then let that out – and change the world.

You have a gift. You have something to bring to the world. There are people around you who will remind you of that fact. Listen to them. Listen to your heart. And believe. Believe in YOU.

So get ready for some announcements – because I’m back…..

It’s been an odd week.

I had a great time dancing last weekend at Skegness. Simply amazing, and I spent the weekend with one of my most favourite people in the world… and I would dearly love for that friendship to deepen even more.

The next day, my car engine blew up. Well, more sort of ground to a halt really. My bad – I had misinterpreted the flickering lights on the dash as an electrical fault, not an oil warning.

A few days later, I had a new one, courtesy of my step father’s ‘Rent a Wreck’ business – he actually sells (and rents) older vehicles, but they are all really good. Three hours later, the car won’t start. Having been rescued yet again by the RAC, I started to muse….

One of my friends, and an excellent divorce coach (http://www.thedivorcecoach.co.uk/) wrote to me about ‘as within, so without’ – in other words, our outer life is a reflection of our inner life – and it seemed to me that God was sending me a message.

Well, one thing I learned was to pay attention to the signs. In fact, God is always speaking, it’s just up to us how we interpret those signs. If we choose to ignore them, then our world seizes up.  As Sara said in ‘Serendipity’: “I think we make our own decisions, i just think that fate sends us little signs, and it’s how we read the signs that determines whether we’re happy or not.”

I also learnt that I need to get started. To start to make some things happen. To actually begin, and not to stall.

And I learnt that no matter how dark the place I get stranded in, no matter how far away from home… there is always a way to get home, always a way to fix the problem.

I’m starting to rebuild my business, starting to produce more products.  I’m really excited about the future, although I have a feeling that I will end up knowing that . . . “Do not forget love. It will bring you all the madness you need to unfurl yourself across the universe”

I’m also mindful of the fact that “Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but the ability to start over.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

More to come… as I learn to listen…

Inspiration comes from some of the oddest places…this is from Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell III… and currently echoing how I feel about life….

I’m still alive
Must have been a miracle
It’s been a hell of ride
Destination still unknown
It’s a fact of life:
If you make one wrong move with the gun to your head
You better walk the line or you’ll be left for dead

I’m a runaway train on a broken track
I’m a ticker on a bomb, you can’t turn back this time
That’s right
I got away with it all and I’m still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I’ll be the last man standing on the ground
And as the blood runs through my veins
I’m still alive

Lost in the night
Feeling so invisible
Oh, a dead man walking the wire
I have broke the devils net
That’s made of fire
And it’s a long way down from the top of the world
You better look around or you gonna get burned

I’m a runaway train on broken track
I’m a ticker on a bomb, you can’t turn back this time
That’s right
I got away with it all and I’m still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I’ll be the last man standing on the ground
And as the dust wheels look in my eyes
I’m still alive
I’m still alive

The darkest night ain’t black enough
To keep the morning light from shining
The highest wall ain’t tall enough
To keep the smallest man from climbing

The more that you resist the tide
The more it pulls you in
The more you hang on for your life

(I’m a runaway train on broken track)
(I’m a ticker on a bomb, you can’t turn back this time)
(that’s right)
That’s right
I got away with it all and I’m still alive

I’m a runaway train on broken track
I’m a ticker on a bomb, you can’t turn back this time
That’s right
I got away with it all and I’m still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I’ll be the last man standing on the ground
And if my shadow is all that survives
I’m still alive

For some time now, since I got divorced, I’ve spent Christmas morning on my own – until my two boys return in the evening and it all gets wild. That means I’ve time to reflect, time to meditate, time to be thoughtful. I took a long walk out this morning, down by the river near my home, and the overwhelming thoughts I had were of gratitude and excitement.

There are so many wonderful things in my life right now. Some wonderful friends, some wonderful adventures that I am on. Sure, there are some really, really hard things going on too. 2008 has not been a particularly comfortable year for me – and 2009 is going to have its share of heartache too. I suspect that it’s the same for you in many ways. And in particular the current financial crisis brings its own share of uncertainty and discomfort. And yet, something seemed to say to me this morning “All will be well”. Not just for me, but for you too. Something is happening in my life, and something is happening in your life… something magical, something wonderful. Something full of joy. Something full of purpose. If you stay open to it. If you learn to listen to your heart, and follow it – your head will catch up eventually.

I know there are many things that will change in 2009. For me as well as for you. There are new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, maybe even new romances. And there are endings, too. Things that have been part of your life will fall away, because you’ve moved on – because something new is coming, and by letting go of the old, we allow ourselves to step into the new. Some things will change and some will disappear.

Many of you know that I am a hopeless romantic. A Christmas tradition for me has been to watch a romantic movie and to dream. This year I watched “Serendipity” again which is one of my top five movies of all time. If you haven’t watched it – well, watch it. If you have – well, watch it again. And listen.

The story is about passion – and about love. But it’s all about our part in creating that destiny – by listening to our hearts, by listening to the signs that the Universe sends us.. as the movie says “if we are to live life in harmony with the universe, we must all possess a powerful faith in what the ancients used to call ‘fatum’, what we currently refer to as ‘destiny’”

And as Sarah in the movie points out “You don’t have to understand, you just have to have faith – faith in destiny”

There is something wonderful happening for you right now.. if you stay open to it, and if you follow the little signs that you are sent – a song, a story, a chance comment. Pay attention. Listen out for the clues, the hints, the signposts. Learn to follow them. They are there.

But the key question is, as the movie says: “The Greeks only asked one question when a man died.. ‘Did he have passion?’”

So what’s your call as you look into 2009? Will you have passion? Passion for what you want? Passion for loving others? Passion for the world? Next year will be what we make it – and with passion, and with a willingness to follow our hearts….we really can change the world.

Into 2009

In these uncertain times, we look around for certainty, for hope, for a sign that all will be well. The coming days, and months, are going to be some of the most exciting we have ever lived in…. but that depends on how we see things. It’s clear to me that I can see this current time as one of uncertainty, of fear, where the foundations are rocked for me. Or I can see it as a time of excitement, where anything could happen.

You see, I know I am going to be OK – I am going to be safe. And so are you.

We often think that life is about the destination, about where we get to – and it isn’t. It isn’t even about the cast – the star, the love interest, the hero. If it was, well, we could perhaps just skip to the last chapter and read that.

It’s about the journey. It’s about the adventure. It’s about the sights we see along the way, the experiences we have. It’s about how we feel. About how much fun we have. How much love we share.

In the movie ‘Along Came Polly’ there is a wonderful character, Polly’s boyfriend’s father, who remains silent for the whole film… until, frustrated at his son’s inability to take a risk, says…”Why don’t you let go – move on with your life. It’s not about what happened in the past – or what might happen in the future. It’s about the ride. No point going through this crap if you’re not going to enjoy the ride. And who knows – something might come along that’s even better than you planned”

And that’s how it is. 2009 looks full of change for me, and for my family. Pretty much anything is up and open to change. And it is going to be incredibly exciting. As a friend said to me – look at fear – and call it adventure. Enjoy the adrenalin rush. Enjoy the experience. I have no idea what the next 12 months will bring… but I know that it will be good. You see, I have a target – to love people, to help heal them, to help them know who they truly are. My target is Love – and that’s good, because love is so big, I can’t miss.

Things are changing for me – and they are changing for you. That’s called ‘Life’ – because life is all about change, all about evolution, all about things being different. So will you accept the adventure, the thrill of the ride?

So, if you want to talk some of this through with me, them drop me a mail – tim@heartstorm.org – or give me a call on 08456101460. And let’s see where the adventure takes us.

To your incredible future

Tim

PS – you might find some things changing in the way I communicate with you as I change shopping carts and hosting. I hope you will stay with me. I hope you’ll enjoy the insights and learning and wisdom – because there’s more to come in 2009, and I want you to be part of it!

Remember – NEW BOOK RELEASE

Stop press – Free Your Mind – Release Your Dreams is released in print and for download.

A while ago, one of my clients asked me if there was a guide to self hypnosis she could use to practice with herself. I didn’t find anything I liked… so I wrote one.

Free Your Mind – Release Your Dreams is designed to help you use the incredible power of your unconscious mind to create the life that you deserve, the life that you have always dreamed of.

In this book you are going to learn:

· How to create trance for yourself
· The secrets to creating deeper trance states
· How to use hypnosis to creatively solve problems
· How to put your mind on autopilot to achieve your goals
· How to relax easily and quickly
· How to beat insomnia
· How to ’step outside’ of your barriers and limitations
· How to remember things easily and quickly
· The secret to finding things you’ve misplaced

We’ll also cover:

· How to reach levels of meditation that spiritual masters dream of
· How your mind works – and how to get it to support you
· How to use the secrets that the Hawaiian Huna use to eliminate fear
· The Hawaiian mediation that will change your life
· How to build lasting inner peace and calm

You can check it out at www.heartstorm.org/page10.htm as a downloadable e-book or as a proper printed hold it your hand bound book. I’ve also included links to some great downloadable audio resources that will really help you get started quickly.

I’ve posted a preview of the first few chapters HERE – so go and check that out NOW!!

and email me if you want to order a copy!

Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa at Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap, holding a picture of a little girl. “Who is this?” asked Santa, smiling. “Your friend? Your sister?” “Yes, Santa,” he replied. “My sister, Sarah, who is very sick,” he said sadly. Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!” the child exclaimed. “She misses you,” he added softly.

Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy’s face, asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted. “What is it?” Santa asked warmly. “Well, I know it’s really too much to ask you, Santa, but ..” the old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa’s elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors. “The girl in the photograph… my granddaughter well, you see … she has leukemia and isn’t expected to make it even through the holidays,” she said through tear-filled eyes. “Is there any way, Santa . any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That’s all she’s asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa.”

Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew what he had to do. “What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying,” he thought with a sinking heart, “this is the least I can do.”

When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to Children’s Hospital. “Why?” Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face. Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah’s grandmother earlier that day. “C’mon…. I’ll take you there,” Rick said softly. Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in the hall.

Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and saw little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl’s brother he had met earlier that day.

A woman whom he guessed was Sarah’s mother stood by the bed, gently pushing Sarah’s thin hair off her forehead. And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah’s aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with weary, sad look on her face. They were talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family, and their love and concern for Sarah. Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, “Ho, ho, ho!”

“Santa!” shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IVtubes in tact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son — 9 years old — gazed up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah’s face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room.

As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa’s shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering “thank you” as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes.

Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she’d been a very good girl that year. As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl’s mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah’s bed, holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels. “Oh, yes, Santa… I do!” she exclaimed.

“Well, I’m going to ask that angels watch over you, “he said. Laying one hand on the child’s head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease.

He asked that angels care for her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly, “Silent Night, Holy Night…. all is calm, all is bright.” The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all. When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah’s frail, small hands in his own.

“Now, Sarah, “he said authoritatively, “you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!” He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he knew that in some way he had to. He had to give her the greatest gift he could — not dolls or games or toys — but the gift of HOPE.

Yes, Santa! “Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Out in the hall, the minute Santa’s eyes met Rick’s, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah’s mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quicklyand rushed to Santa’s side to thank him. “My only child is the same age as Sarah”, he explained quietly. “This is the least I could do.” They nodded with understanding and hugged him.

One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. “Hi, Santa! Remember me?!”

“Of course, I do,” Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a “good” Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the “only” child in the world at that moment.

“You came to see me in the hospital last year!” Santa’s jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. “Sarah!” he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her,for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy — much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before. He looked over and saw Sarah’s mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.

That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed –and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about — this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank you. It’s a very, Merry Christmas!”