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Christmas is a magical time and is one of the most important days of the year for many families.
But for one man, all he remembers about Christmas Eve is his mother leaving without explanation.
His Mother Left Every Christmas Eve
Christmas is a time of celebration, joy, and quality time with your loved ones. Typical Christmas celebrations include a delicious feast and gift-sharing.
But for one man, Christmas was spent a little bit differently as a child, as he watched his mother, Sue, leave every Christmas Eve for unknown reasons. That is until she passed away.
Christmas Is A Time Of Celebrating With Family
For children, Christmas is a time when they get to see their whole family reunited, who are, in turn, excited to see them growing up.
It's a time when positive memories are formed in the child's development and gives the season a sense of importance to look forward to during the year.
John's Family Had A Different Tradition To Expect
Every family celebrates Christmas differently. Maybe they open presents on Christmas Eve or wait until Christmas day.
But for John Dorroh, his Christmas tradition was seeing his mom leave in a hurry on Christmas eve.
She Would Disappear Every Christmas Eve
For years without fail, John's mother would leave in a rush on Christmas eve, promising to return in a few hours.
Sue never gave a reason for what she was doing, which was a mystery to the family.
His Mother Returned With No Explanation
John's family never questioned what his mother was up to, as she would return within a few hours as promised.
But he can't forget how she would grab her car keys and drive off.
She Wasn't Buying Gifts For The Family
John and his family never understood what was happening. His mother always made sure to buy everyone's presents on time.
What was she doing if she wasn't going out to buy last-minute gifts for the family?
They Accepted Her Disappearance
The family went years without gaining a clear answer. They learned to accept that John's mother would disappear like clockwork every Christmas eve.
Still, the question of what she was up to would follow John until her passing.
A Mysterious Letter Told The Truth About His Mother
After his mother's death, John received a mysterious letter from a man who only referred to himself as "Robert."
The letter revealed what John's mother was up to on Christmas eve.
The Letter Was Addressed To John Only
The letter was addressed directly to John and not anyone else in his family.
The letter began with, "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."
The Man Knew His Mother
The mysterious Robert revealed that he and John's mother were close, so much so that he was the one she was visiting every time she would disappear on Christmas eve.
It was a surprising revelation that John could've never imagined.
His Mother Was Seeing Another Family For Christmas
Besides the surprise at finding out his mother was spending time with Robert and his family every Christmas, John kept reading the letter for more details.
He had to know why his mother had to see another family during Christmas.
He Was Nervous About What The Letter Would Reveal
With a family mystery that had no answer, John was nervous about what the letter could reveal.
After all, what kind of mother would leave her family with no explanation?
She Dressed Up Like Mrs. Claus
Finally, the letter revealed the truth. "Every year on Christmas Eve day, your mom comes to my house dressed [sic] 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."
John couldn't believe it.
She Was Giving To The Less Fortunate
The letter revealed that John's mother would meet with Robert's family every Christmas eve to give gifts to his family.
Although he already knew it, it confirmed what he already knew that his mother had a big heart.
Robert Was Also Grieving His Mother
Robert was also grieving after the death of John's mother.
"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."
He Wondered Why She Had To Keep A Secret
Of course, it's not easy to say goodbye to someone who went out of their way to help your family during such a crucial time.
Still, it didn't explain why Sue couldn't just tell her family what she was doing.
She Never Wanted Praise
But perhaps Sue didn't need the recognition. She was such a kind person that she never wanted praise for her actions.
She felt joy in the act of helping others in need.
She Embodied The Spirit Of Christmas
What Sue did was truly embody the spirit of Christmas. She brought the joy of the holidays to a family that needed it without asking for anything in exchange.
She was selfless and wanted to spread that cheer in whatever way she could.
She Went Out Of Her Way To Make A Family's Christmas Wishes Come True
Sue could have easily donated to a charity.
Instead, she dressed up as Santa and made Christmas something that Robert's children could always look forward to every year.
She Expected Nothing In Return
John's mother expected nothing in return and wanted to see Robert's family enjoy the Christmas season.
Although it was a surprising discovery, he's grateful to have had such a caring mother.
She Taught Her Son The True Joy Of Giving
The story of John's mother and her secret act of giving shows us that despite the busyness of everyday life, it can take just a few hours to show you care.
Sue's story shares the true joy of giving.
He Was Emotional At How Much Of An Impact His Mother Had
After finding out about his mother's whereabouts on Christmas eve all those years ago, John burst into tears.
Hearing that his mother had such an impact on others' lives inspired him to share the story.
He Wanted To Tell Her Story
As a professional writer, John wrote a short story about his mom called "Mom's Secret Mission."
He submitted the story to Chicken Soup for the Soul to be considered for publication.
Her Story Was Published For Everyone To Read
It took a while, but finally, John received good news.
Amy Newmark, the editor-in-chief of the publishing house, loved the story so much that she included the short story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Christmas in 2016.
She Has Become An Inspiration
John says he felt humbled that Chicken Soup for the Soul included his story in the 2016 Christmas edition of the famous book series.
But her story of giving has since inspired readers around the world.
He Lives A Humble Life
John has since become a teacher and writer in his hometown of Highland, Illinois.
He's proud that his mother's story has inspired others to show the spirit of giving to those in need.
She Finally Got The Recognition She Deserves
While no one knows for sure if Sue also helped other families, it's clear that her memory will live on thanks to the book.
John knows that her memory will grow to become a worldwide inspiration.
Helping Others Through Teaching
John is a science teacher and writer in Highland who has taught for over 30 years, sharing the gift of knowledge with young people.
He also is a master short story writer, and his work has appeared in numerous online reviews and publications.
John Is An Accomplished Writer
He also has published a few books, including How to Write to Learn Science, a book that teaches students about science using writing methodology combining this love of science with his love of writing.
He also has a collection of 99 short stories called 99 Words, published in 2012.
He Continues To Honor The Memory Of Sue In His Writing
John splits his time between Mississippi and his native Illinois.
He continues to honor the memory of his mother in other ways, writing short stories and poetry about her life.