Have you ever been driving down the road and hear a song come on the radio that brings back a flood of memories? Well, that's what happened to me yesterday.

I just happened to be out of the range of K-98.5 so I started flipping around and I landed on an old Clay Walker song called "The Chain Of Love".

Here's the video in case you don't know it.

The song brought back memories of a much younger Lainie Brooks playing that song in the early years of my career and how the meaning of that song became reality one Christmas.

I was fresh out of college and working my first official full time job here in Waterloo. Like most new jobs, I started at the bottom, which means night time hours with starters pay. Despite my lack luster hours and pay, I was thrilled to have the opportunity.

I went to broadcasting school in North Dakota but landed my first real full time job here in my home state of Iowa. I'm not going to lie, my first year back home was a tough one financially. There were moving expenses, college loans and trying to support a child on my own. I was convinced my son wasn't going to have a Christmas that year because there was no money to spare.

That's when a real Christmas angel came to the rescue. One day I walked into work and sitting on the top of my desk was heaping pile of toys with a note that read,

"Ho, Ho, Ho! Hope that Cassidy (my son) has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS this year!" Love Santa

Magic Christmas eve
Sergey Nivens
loading...

I can't even begin to describe the relief and gratitude I felt at that moment. All I could do is cry. Not one person would fess up to being the secret Santa.

It was on that day that I made a promise that one day I would return the favor and years later I did.

 

I hope that this special story from my life will encourage everyone that read it to start their own "Chain Of Love" this holiday season. The opportunities are all around us.

  • Salvation Army kettles
  • Toys For Tots (There are boxes at many Cedar Valley stores)
  • The Northeast Iowa Food Bank
  • The Waterloo Warriors are collecting items at tonight's game (12-15-15) at Young Arena for families in need. Click HERE for the details.

Plus, don't forget that we post community events and fundraisers on K-98.5's events page. Check it out today. Maybe there will be something that sparks your interest. I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS this year and may God bless each and every one of you in 2016. Ho! Ho! Ho!

 

 

 

More From K92.3