From the Desk of Father Christmas
My dearest …,
It is late here, and the workshop has finally gone quiet, which is when I write my letters. I wanted to write yours first. Your name is in the Great Book for 2026, in good clear ink, and beside it is written the thing I want you to know I saw: .
People think my job is presents. It is not, really. My job is paying attention. And what I noticed about you this year was not the loudest thing you did — it was . That is the sort of thing that never makes a noise, and it is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for.
So tonight I will come when the house is dark and the last light is off, and I will stand for just a moment in your hallway the way I do every year, and be glad. The reindeer will wait on the roof. They are very patient, and they know which houses matter.
Be kind to the people in your house, . Be kind especially on the days when it is hard, because those are the days it counts double. And go to sleep — I truly cannot come until you do.
and my warmest wishes for the year ahead —
P.S. — Thank you for what you left out for me. The reindeer send their particular thanks, and they always remember which houses were generous.