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 Christmas has
forgotten."
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a
FIR TREE and placed it
before the mantel.
"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, St. Nick, ( Santa Claus ) 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 a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM,
our LORD, our GOD."
