Deanna Edwards: Wanted One Family

"LONELY MAN"S AD INSPIRED SINGER," heralded front page headlines in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.

"NEW-FOUND FRIENDS EASE LONELINESS FOR TRACY MAN," announced The Indepenndent in Marshall, Minnesota.

"SONG CHANGES THE LIFE OF ONCE LONELY MAN," declared the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"A MAN'S PLEA OPENED A WORLD OF GENEROSITY: 87-YEAR-OLD'S WANT AD 10 YEARS AGO SEEKING A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS STILL GENERATES LOVE," reported the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The song Wanted: One Family was written in 1980 with the hope that because of the ad, placed by Joe Smarzik, there will be less loneliness in the world on Christmas day. After the song was first played on radio stations, numerous inquiries were made to know the story behind the song. An avalanche of love in the form of letters and cards including personal holiday greetings from President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy.

Music Library
Children	Loneliness
	Volunteerism

Wanted: One Family
On a cold and frosty morning
I picked up the local paper
And read the ads to pass the time away.
The radio was playing my favorite Christmas music,
Preparing for a special holiday.
The snow was falling quietly 
And a distant bell was calling me.
Through bitter cold such warmth was coming through,
And then, so unexpectedly, 
these words were looking back at me,
And I felt as if my heart would break in two.

"Wanted ... one family to share my Christmas day.
Wanted ... one friend to take the loneliness away.
I'm not asking much of you.
I'll only stay an hour or two.
I'll even bring the turkey if you call.
It's been a long and lonely day 
Since I have watched a child at play.
And children are the greatest gifts of all"

The Christmas story filled my mind 
And the night when Joseph couldn't find
One room for little Jesus to be born.
So in a manger filled with hay 
The King of Kings was gently laid,
And angels sang for joy that Christmas morn.
My own Dad died in early spring, 
And I could'nt help remembering
How much my children missed their Grandpa's love.
With trembling hands I took the phone,
Called the local nursing home
And found the dear old man who wote these words:

"Wanted: one family to share my Christmas Day.
Wanted: one friend to take the loneliness away.
I'm not asking much of you. 
I'll only stay an hour or two.
I'll even bring the turkey if you call.
It's been a long and lonely day 
Since I have watched a child at play.
And children are the greatest gifts of all"
Yes children are the greatest gifts of all.

"How many times have we passed lonely people on the streets while we were busy shopping or buying groceries for Christmas dinner? We may glance their way and say, 'Merry Christmas,' but what does 'Merry Christmas' mean to someone whose heart is breaking? Christmas is about the coming of God's Only Begotten Son to be the greatest friend known to mankind. But He can only be a friend to others through our lives."