It seems that now more than ever, I hear a lot of talk about this topic. I would like to put in my two cents. I believe in Santa Claus.
True Story:
Once upon a time, I was an eight-year-old girl, the fourth of eight children. One night in December, my parents announced that a special visitor would be coming to our house. Before long, Kris Kringle rang our doorbell. (This was his legal name.) He was jolly, thick man with a full white beard. He wore a red suit.
While he was in our little house, each of us children got a turn to sit on his lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas. That year was my turn to do an extra-curricular activity and I was enrolled in gymnastics. My Christmas list consisted of a gymnastics mat, a typewriter that could type both red and black, and a reversible coat (two coats in one!). I gave Mr. Kringle the list of my heart's desires and he gave me a candy cane and a coloring book.
When it was time for our special guest to leave, he said this, "I have to get back to the North Pole now. I am going to leave a little surprise for you on the porch, but don't open anything until Christmas Day. It will take me a couple of minutes to hitch up my sleigh and reindeer. Don't look out the window for a full ten minutes to give me enough time to leave, okay?"
I remember two things about the next ten minutes: my parents kept wrestling us away from the living room curtains and it was the longest ten minutes of my life.
At the end of the allotted time, when we opened our front door, we saw magic. Our entire porch, which ran the length of our rancher, was covered in wrap presents--piles and piles of gifts of every size.
Christmas morning, when we were finally allowed to rip into those packages, what do you think I found?
Yep: a gymnastics mat, a typewriter that could type both red and black, and a reversible coat--with zip-off sleeves (an added bonus from the elves, I guessed)!
Now, some people say that Santa Claus is not real, but I know differently. I have never been to the North Pole so I cannot speak of the existence of a massive workshop manned by little people, but I can speak of the magic-making love I have felt this and other Christmas mornings. I believe that love and manifestations of it can come from many sources. And if those sources fall under the name, "Santa Claus," I am totally fine with that. I welcome Santa and his magic into my home and his love into the hearts of my children. He was a very tender part of my childhood and I hope someday my children will say the same.
13 comments:
I believe in Santa too! Thank you for this great post. What great magical moments it allows each of us to have. Happy times! Merry Christmas to your beautiful family.
And to think I just finished one hour long radio show where I talked about how teaching children about Santa is a bad thing - and have another interview scheduled next Monday for the exact same topic. I do mention, by the way, about my incredible daughter-in-law who goes so far as to differentiate the Santa Wrapping paper from the parents.
I remember "testing" if Santa existed. I put out a plate of cookies. If they were eaten by morning, he must be real. The thing is, I ate them before he did. :/ I am still trying to figure that one out.
I "tested" Santa, too. I had put a piece of paper on my door that said "Santa, if you're really real, please sign your name here." and I drew a line for his name, and I taped a pencil to the door. In the morning I woke up and there was no name, nothing. I was crushed. That's why to this day I get in trouble for trying to spare my kids the same disappointment when I don't do my best to "deceive" them. I go along with it a little, but don't press me...I don't want anyone to feel as badly as I did that day!
What a fun experience for your childhood. That was fun to read : ).
I love Santa and the things that he can symbolize: rewards for being nice, giving without receiving. Mostly, I like that inspite of all the tihngs I did wrong every year, he still came anyway. What great lessons to share with your children.
This story makes me cry every time you tell it. They are tears of happiness but still I cry.
I told Lukas that Santa is a reminder to us to have a giving heart.
Thanks for sharing this!
Esther
I believe in Santa Clause too. I was very sad the first year I spent away from home for Christmas and realized I had no extra gift from him. I was in my first year of grad school, so I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised. Every year I've not been with family since then I make sure I have a few presents from Santa, just in case he's busy with all the other millions of children.
I didn't really grow up with Santa in my life. But I'm glad he visits our children faithfully every year with 3 presents to celebrate Jesus's birthday. Interestingly, he always wraps our presents in distinct Santa wrapping paper too. Love that jolly ol' elf for appreciating a family tradition.
Well spoken, friend. I'm with you all the way.
This story is so beautiful and tender. I love it. I believe too. I believe the magic of Christmas has many forms, and one of them is the jolly elf in the red suit.
Love that memory from your childhood and tears me up whenever I hear it.
Santa will always be a reality in our home!
Did I never post on this? Well. You know how I feel about it. What a wonderful memory! So great.
I know this post is very old but I just have to comment. I believe in Santa Clause all the way. I know my parents and friends buy me all my gifts,but the thought of Santa really warms my heart up. Christmas is my favorite time of year because it's when Jesus was born and with that is where family comes together and where they give and receive. I fully support that you should tell your children about Santa and that he is a kind and giving man. I also had an experience when I was like 5. On the night of Christmas eve I woke and out my window I say a sleigh in the sky,till this day I don't know if I was dreaming or if it was real but I like to think it was, cause that was a magical night that I will remember for the rest of my life!!! Thanks for the post, it reminded me of when I was a little girl :)
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