Secret Santa Brings Early Gift For Family Of Stolen Yard Display

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park homeowner could've copped her own "bah humbug" attitude after someone's despicable deed left her family with one less inflatable Minion holiday decoration. Instead, Kristine Resler took the high road in an open note to the individual(s) "who stole, took or borrowed" the display Friday night from the yard of her family's Brementown home.

"I forgive you and hope you got what you were looking for this holiday season," Resler wrote in a message she posted on Facebook over the weekend. "Things clearly aren’t going well for you. I feel for you and if stealing our minion satisfied your needs or made the holidays just that much more bearable for you then Merry Christmas! I’m glad we were able to contribute and be a part of your holidays this year."

Resler might have been in a forgiving spirit over the stolen decoration, but her son, Matthew, was upset to see the beloved figure missing. The 6-year-old is a big fan of the cartoon characters from the "Despicable Me" movies, and the display was a favorite of his.

"He came home yesterday and asked me 'Why did they take it?' So sad!" she wrote in response to the comments on her post.

The following is Resler's complete Facebook note about the missing Minion:

"To the person who stole, took or borrowed our minion last night...Merry Christmas! I am convinced you needed this inflatable display of Christmas more than I or my family did. You’re one of two people - 1. I imagine that maybe you have personal financial struggles, with small children at home and no decorations, and this minion would just make their Christmas or 2. You are a mean spirited person, Tinley Park’s very own Grinch, and in an effort to get noticed and feel acknowledged you decided to take our Christmas decoration. Whichever person you are...I forgive you and hope you got what you were looking for this holiday season. Things clearly aren’t going well for you. I feel for you and if stealing our minion satisfied your needs or made the holidays just that much more bearable for you then Merry Christmas! I’m glad we were able to contribute and be a part of your holidays this year."

Resler admitted to Patch that her first reaction over the disappearing decoration wasn't as charitable.

"Initially, I was angry and even contemplated filing a police report, but then I began to wonder, not about 'what' happened, but why," she said. "And no matter what scenario I came up with, I just felt this person or person(s) wasn’t in a good place in life. It takes a lot of energy to be mad and hold grudges, and I just didn’t feel that was how I wanted to spend my day or Christmas."

But the case of the missing Minion doesn't end with Resler's empathetic message. Instead, it continued Tuesday night with another note, this one from a secret Santa, who also left a new inflatable decoration in the yard.

"I heard someone borrowed your Minion without asking," the note addressed to Matthew stated. "Since you are at the top of my Nice List, I wanted to start your Christmas early."

And after seeing Matthew's reaction to the new arrival, Resler's holiday gift arrived early, too. She says she doesn't know who is responsible for the new decoration, which arrived while she was at a holiday party Tuesday night.

"When I came home last night and saw the Minion plugged in and lit up for display again, I was speechless," she said. "I had to hold back tears as I read the letter from Santa to Matthew. It wasn’t that we needed the Minion but more so the reminder of how awesome people are and how much they care."

YOUR TURN: Would you be as forgiving as Kristine Resler was over her family's stolen Minions decoration? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments.

Matthew Resler, 6, poses with his new Minion yard display Wednesday, Dec. 20. (Photo via Kristine Resler)