"Santa in the house"
I just finished the household chores for the night and was
preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of
the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my
surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas
tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry
out.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked
up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual
jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul
we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement.
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!"
I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my
question, and with one quick movement brought forth a
miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered,
Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning
of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has
forgotten."
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE
and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the
pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year
round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the
needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's
thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant
STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of
promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and
the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE.
"Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the
light of the world, and when we see this great light we are
reminded of He who displaces the darkness."
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a
WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the
wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never
ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF.
"Teach the children that I, Santa Clause, symbolize the
generosity and good will we feel during the month of
December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children
that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the
crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the
blood shed by Him."
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the
children that God so loved the world that he gave . . ." "Thanks
be to God for his unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the
wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented him with
gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in
the same spirit of the wise men."
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY
CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the
candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the
staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy
cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the
children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious
news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the
highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he
pulled out a BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are
found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the
fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. Santa looked
back and was pleased.
He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back
in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true
meaning of Christmas. Do not put me in the center, for I am
but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to
worship Him, our Lord, our God."
"Sometimes, business decisions must be based not on economics,
but on what is right." ~ Ivan Howes
