Our grandson asked his grandma to check her phone and see if Santa Claus was real. Lately, he has been posing this question a lot lately because, I assume, he has been talking to his classmates as to the reality of St. Nicholas. I think that Chris had the perfect answer. She assured Dillon that the spirit of Santa Claus was indeed real.
I was impressed by the simplicity of the response, and I had to ask her what she meant by it. She explained that Santa was all about giving, and whatever you had to give was okay. I pondered this for awhile then came back with, "That's beautiful."
But I also thought about Dillon and what he was thinking. Probably, he wanted a verification that Santa indeed was a real person and did all the things that he is purported to do. Like travel thousands of miles in one night to deliver toys to every boy and girl, meanwhile keeping a list of those who were naughty and nice. Not to mention cracking the whip over reindeer and while calling out their names, "On Rudolph, Comet, Vixen, Blitzen, Dancer, Prancer . . . On Tavo, Chewey and Beto" as they pull the sleigh overloaded with presents across the sky on the way to the next rooftop.
To ask a child to think in terms of goodness and generosity is a lot to ask because they're not very good with abstracts. Few of us are. And then to try to personify the goodness of Jolly old St. Nick in one person is a mighty tall order. That is why he is best relegated to the spirit world.
So when people scoff, and tell us that there is no such thing as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, take it with a grain of salt. Both those mythological characters require a stretch of imagination in order to comprehend what they do and how they do it. I won't even try to tackle the symbolism required to understand the Easter Bunny. That can wait till Spring. But Santa Claus is not that hard to figure out. He's this jolly old fellow who seems to be ubiquitous this time of year because you see him everywhere. In fact, I saw a disabled Santa in a wheelchair just last night at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar raising awareness for some nonprofit. But in the mind of a child, Santa is the one who brings presents to all the good girls and boys all over the world.
Now just how does he do it? Well, he has lots of help in the form of all those people who have been charged with the spirit of giving and good cheer. Adults and kids of all ages take it upon themselves by doing several things: dressing up as Santas, elves, reindeer, in red and green, stringing lights around their homes, decorating evergreens in living rooms, and hanging wreaths on doors. And giving gifts. That seems to be the emphasis. This is indeed the time of giving. Be they gifts of kindness and generosity, or of forgiveness and reconciliation.
So on this brief note, I want to wish all my readers and their families a very Merry Christmas. Until next time.
I was impressed by the simplicity of the response, and I had to ask her what she meant by it. She explained that Santa was all about giving, and whatever you had to give was okay. I pondered this for awhile then came back with, "That's beautiful."
But I also thought about Dillon and what he was thinking. Probably, he wanted a verification that Santa indeed was a real person and did all the things that he is purported to do. Like travel thousands of miles in one night to deliver toys to every boy and girl, meanwhile keeping a list of those who were naughty and nice. Not to mention cracking the whip over reindeer and while calling out their names, "On Rudolph, Comet, Vixen, Blitzen, Dancer, Prancer . . . On Tavo, Chewey and Beto" as they pull the sleigh overloaded with presents across the sky on the way to the next rooftop.
To ask a child to think in terms of goodness and generosity is a lot to ask because they're not very good with abstracts. Few of us are. And then to try to personify the goodness of Jolly old St. Nick in one person is a mighty tall order. That is why he is best relegated to the spirit world.
So when people scoff, and tell us that there is no such thing as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, take it with a grain of salt. Both those mythological characters require a stretch of imagination in order to comprehend what they do and how they do it. I won't even try to tackle the symbolism required to understand the Easter Bunny. That can wait till Spring. But Santa Claus is not that hard to figure out. He's this jolly old fellow who seems to be ubiquitous this time of year because you see him everywhere. In fact, I saw a disabled Santa in a wheelchair just last night at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar raising awareness for some nonprofit. But in the mind of a child, Santa is the one who brings presents to all the good girls and boys all over the world.
Now just how does he do it? Well, he has lots of help in the form of all those people who have been charged with the spirit of giving and good cheer. Adults and kids of all ages take it upon themselves by doing several things: dressing up as Santas, elves, reindeer, in red and green, stringing lights around their homes, decorating evergreens in living rooms, and hanging wreaths on doors. And giving gifts. That seems to be the emphasis. This is indeed the time of giving. Be they gifts of kindness and generosity, or of forgiveness and reconciliation.
So on this brief note, I want to wish all my readers and their families a very Merry Christmas. Until next time.
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