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“Student and Teacher,” Mailman in Holly Spreads Joy and Wisdom All Year

(Mark H. Stowers, March 4, 2022)

Holly, MI- John Hansen has been delivering mail for 26 years in New York, Florida and Michigan but the joy-filled mail carrier always adds his own touch to the task. This past Christmas, he was a bit of a social media sensation in the Holly area but the humble and happy mailman knows the holiday message is not just for one month only.

“Christmas should live in our heart all year, every day. I really do try to live that way but I am human and do lose my temper on occasion,” Hansen said. “I do love people and it’s simply the Golden Rule. They try to come up with all these complicated formulas but it’s just treat people the way you want to be treated. And wow, what happens when you do that?”

And he does that each day on and off is mail carrier route.

“I enjoy meeting people I don’t know for the very first time,” Hansen said. “So often, nobody is ever looking anybody in the eye. Gosh, if you just look them in the eye and say, ‘how are you?’ and realize that listening is not just waiting for your turn to talk.”

During Christmas time each year, a mailbox just for Santa at Battle Alley Coffee in Holly, fills up and John duly does his job to get those letters to St. Nick. But throughout the year, he knows Christmas cheer is just as important.

“We (Santa and John) have an excellent relationship,” he said. “Even at my age I make sure everyone I come in contact with still believes in Santa. We can’t ever give up that hope. But our other faith is important. That’s what the whole season is about. I do my best to spread Christmas cheer all year round. Christmas lives in my heart.”

The Davison native and resident began his US Post Office career as Christmas help while living in Florida. And he’s got a plan to write a book about his mail career.

“Hopefully, it will be motivational and inspirational,” he said. “I’m blessed in many ways that I have such great customers.”

Though he doesn’t always get to see the children that are on his mail walking route due to them being in school, he does take the time to visit when they are home.

“I do my best to make sure I always have time for young people and hopefully I’ll have some words of encouragement or wisdom for them,” he said.

He gives credit to his upbringing and his faith for his joyful spirit.

“Growing up in Davison, there were always people who took time for me when I was young” he said. “My faith is important to me as well and we see that in the people we meet. The blessings are there. It’s an opportunity every day to look someone in the eye and make their day feel a little bit better for them. We never know what their story is or what they are going through. Gosh, if we can offer them some encouragement. I just try to live that way.”

With his friendly demeanor, spirit and looking folks in the eye, xx is always on the lookout for an opportunity to bless and to be blessed by those who come across his path.

“I’ve been very blessed with people who have touched my life. There’s an old saying, ‘when a student is ready, a teacher appears.’ I hope that I am both. I’m a student during the day but I hope to be a teacher.”

The “Christmas Elf” mail carrier works to make a difference each day that he’s here.

“It’s great when we do something for someone and they don’t even know we did it for them. That’s the true spirit of giving. If we do something for someone who knows us or expects something, have we really done something? But when we do it for somebody we don’t know and we don’t tell them that we did it. That may be worth a brownie point or two. We’ll have to wait till the next world to find out.”

Hansen continues to bless those on his route daily.

“A long, strange trip it’s been,” he said of his US Post Office journey. “If I had a Christmas wish, it would be that some people would put down their phone or tablet and look a stranger in the eye and just say, ‘how are you doing today?’ and respond with ‘Good, I’m glad to hear that.’”

Hansen’s favorite Christmas carol helps sum up his beliefs.

“The Christmas Guest by Grandpa Jones. It’s a story actually. I’ve loved it since I was a kid. I just shared this at Battle Alley Coffee and we all had a tear in our eye,” he said.

It happened one day near December’s end

Two neighbors called on an old friend

And they found his shop so meager and lean

Made gay with thousand bows of green

And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine

When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine

And he said “Old friends, at dawn today

When the cock was crowing the night away

The Lord appeared in a dream to me

And said, “I’m coming your guest to be.”

 

So, I’ve been busy with feet astir

Strewing my shop with branches of fern

The table is spread and the kettle is shined

And over the rafters the holly is twined

 

Now I’ll wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear

His step as He nears my humble place

And I’ll open the door and look on His face

 

So, his friends went home and left Conrad alone

For this was the happiest day he had known

For long since, his family had passed away

And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day

 

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest

This Christmas would be the dearest and best

So, he listened with only joy in his heart

And with every sound he would rise with a start

And look for the Lord to be at his door

Like the vision he had had a few hours before

 

So, he ran to the window after hearing a sound

But all he could see on the snow covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

And all of his clothes were ragged and worn

 

But Conrad was touched and he went to the door

And he said, “You know, your feet must be frozen and sore

I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that will keep you warmer too.”

So, with grateful heart the man went away

But Conrad noticed the time of day

And wondered what made the Lord so late

And how much longer he’d have to wait

 

When he heard a knock, he ran to the door

But it was only a stranger once more

A bent old lady with a shawl of black

With a bundle of kindling piled on her back

She asked for only a place to rest

But that was reserved for Conrad’s Great Guest

 

But her voice seemed to plead “Don’t send me away

Let me rest for a while on Christmas Day”

So, Conrad brewed her a steaming cup

And told her to sit at the table and sup

 

But after she left, he was filled with dismay

For he saw that the hours were slipping away

And the Lord hadn’t come as he said he would

Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood

 

When out of the stillness he heard a cry

‘Please help me and tell me where am I?”

So again, he opened his friendly door

And stood disappointed as twice before

It was only a child who’d wandered away

And was lost from her family on Christmas Day

 

Again, Conrad’s heart was heavy and sad

But he knew he should make the little girl glad

So, he called her in and he wiped her tears

And quieted all her childish fears

 

Then he led her back to her home once more

But as he entered his own darkened door

He knew the Lord was not coming today

For the hours of Christmas had passed away

 

 

So, he went to his room and knelt down to pray

And he said “Dear Lord, why did you delay?

What kept you from coming to call on me?

For I wanted so much your face to see.’

 

When soft in the silence a voice he heard

“Lift up your head for I kept my word

Three times my shadow crossed your floor

And three times I came to your lonely door

 

I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet

And I was the woman you gave something to eat

I was the child on the homeless street

Three times I knocked, and three times I came in

And each time I found the warmth of a friend

Of all the gifts, love is the best

And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.