This past Wednesday, I had the honor of greeting and meeting St. Nikolaus here at GISC. He was accompanied by two other dignitaries – GPG Chair Danielle Anson and Board Member/Room Parent Julie Steffen, who had prepared for St. Nikolaus’ visit by gathering gifts as far away as Switzerland. Students of all ages took great delight in the visit.

There are many stories and legends of St. Nikolaus, of which the following fascinates me the most:

Legend has it that St. Nikolaus secretly dropped off gold coins at an impoverished family’s house so that the three daughters could avoid being put into a life of prostitution. After the first gift, the father provided the gold coins for a dowry (certainly an old-fashioned concept), and on the second night St. Nikolaus re-emerged and gold coins reappeared to help the next daughter. On the third night, the father lay awake and indeed “caught” St. Nikolaus making his third gift for the family’s third daughter. The father got on his knees to thank St. Nikolaus, but St. Nikolaus ordered him to stand up and made the father promise that he would never publicize St. Nikolaus’ generosity.

Indeed, the best gifts are those that come to us unexpectedly and maybe even from donors we do not know. On the other hand, it is the act of giving that may be equally precious for those who make the gift. Mercy (die Barmherzigkeit) and generosity are character traits that are twice-blessed, as Shakespeare wrote in his play The Merchant of Venice:

The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes

Enjoy the season, and allow me to thank you for the generosity you show  to our school and our faculty and staff. There are so many acts of kindness at our school, and indeed, some of them may go unnoticed but delivered in a spirit of joy. Thank you for that.

Ben