Santa's Secret

When touring with BYU companies, usually we go through two different coach lines. I have traveled on both Le Bus and Lake Shore Motor Coach Lines and find that we usually have the same bus drivers. With Le Bus we have LeGrande as the driver, and with Lake Shore we have Phil as the driver. I have always appreciated the drivers we've had. They are simply wonderful people! With Theatre Ballet, we were with Lake Shore so I was able to tour with Phil again. He is great! Before we reached Provo, he told us of the book he wrote about several special experiences he's had while being a Santa during the holiday season. Here's a review I found of the book.


Title: Santa's Secret, A Christmas Novel
Author: Christy Hardman with Phil Porter
Reviewed by Jaymie Reynolds

Phil Porter doesn't just pretend to be Santa at Christmas time. He doesn't just wear the suit to supplement his Christmas budget. When Phil puts on that suit, he becomes Santa. He seeks for solutions to problems in a way that he thinks Santa would do. He has a simple faith in the miracles of the Christmas season. Phil expects things to work out and so they do.

Santa's Secret, A Christmas Novel, by Christy Hardman begins with a wonderful poem called Santa's Secret Wish by Betty Worth Westrope. This poem sets the tone for the entire book. It captures the attention of the reader and tugs firmly at their heartstrings. It embodies the spirit of Christmas and the reason that we celebrate it. In this poem Santa sums it up well saying,

"It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,
to give toys to some and to give prayers to others.

"But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each need."

When Phil Porter serves as Santa Claus for those who are grieving, lonely or destitute, he finds help through prayer and many Christmas miracles. To Phil, being Santa is important because it is how he finds the Savior at Christmas time. The opportunities that he finds in his service help him to draw near to Jesus Christ, to see others as Jesus would see them, and to become more like the Savior.

Santa's Secret is a lesson in perspective. It demonstrates how, to the person who has everything and more, often nothing will ever be enough. The Spirit of Christmas is lost in greed, anger and disappointment. The joy that is sought from sharing this holiday is lost in the need to acquire. On the other hand, to the child who sleeps in the corner on a rag pile because there just isn't money for a bed, a bed and bedding are a better Christmas present than the most costly toy. For the little girl whose mommy hits her, words of comfort and love are a kindness more priceless than anything else she has known.

Those who truly read Santa's Secret will come away with a greater appreciation for the gifts in their own lives. It is a thought provoking book that brings to the forefront the true meaning of Christmas. Hardman does a wonderful job of tying Santa and his trappings together with a meaningful worship of the Savior. This book is geared toward those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but anyone seeking to draw nearer to the Savior can enjoy it as well. The one thing that might be done better in this book is to make it more clear that Phil Porter is a fictional character as many people are likely to overlook the title page.

The Spirit of Christmas permeates the pages of this book and reaches out to draw the reader in. This would be a great book to read together as a family as long as the children are old enough to know where Santa really lives. Little children can still be taught from the poem at the beginning of the book. For those who are seeking to build up their collection of holiday literature and traditions, this book is a great place to start.