The holiday season is upon us and all the decorating, cooking and gift shopping can stretch our creativity, time and finances to the limit. It’s easy to lose sight of the important things as we scurry around, but Travel Maestro recently gained some perspective from a real life Santa Claus.

Just after Thanksgiving, a gentleman came into our headquarters office to inquire about a trip to Walt Disney World. Covington Vacation Counselor, Jean, spoke with the man and as they began to discuss the trip, she asked the typical questions of who would be traveling, when they want to go, etc.

The gentleman told Jean that he has been going to the same local restaurant every day for years. One of the waitresses is a young single mom with two boys, ages 8 and 12. As the man chatted with the waitress one day, he discovered that her boys had never been on an airplane, nor had they been to Disney World. He decided at that moment… that was going to change!

This generous man bought a complete trip to Disney World for the waitress, her mother and her two young sons! In January they will fly nonstop flights from Richmond to Orlando and spend four nights at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. In addition, 4-day Park Hopper Passes and meals for the entire family are included!

The boys will receive the gift on Christmas morning. The only thing the benefactor requested was that they not be told who gave it to them – only that it is a present from Santa Claus – and to see a picture of the boys enjoying themselves in Disney.

We at Covington regularly see the joy that travel brings to people’s lives and are sure that this generous gift will create memories for a young family that they will cherish and recount for a lifetime. But the kind patron has also gotten great joy from giving the gift of travel to a deserving family. So much so that he told Jean, “I think I will do this every year!”

I feel the gentleman’s gift even extended to the rest of us as a heartwarming reminder that a random act of kindness – large or small – can make a real difference in people’s lives. I, for one, have a renewed motivation to “pay it forward.” Thanks for reminding me, Santa!