Page Title

This is how it happened...

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 has been 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 HIS only begotten SON...
"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 twinkling 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 and do not put
me in the center, for I am but an humble servant of the One that is,
and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."