A few weeks before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened...I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise at the front of the house. I walked into the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree!
He placed his finger over his mouth, asking for silence and 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? And, what did he want me to do?
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 true meaning of Christmas…the meaning that now-a-days many have forgotten.”
Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it near 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 upward making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He reached into his bag again and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that a star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was a sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world. When we see this great light we are reminded that it is Christ who displaces the darkness."
Once more 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 brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior, and the red holly represents the blood shed by Him."
Next he pulled from his bag a wrapped 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 gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men."
Again, Santa reached into 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 figure. Teach the children that it was the angels who heralded 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 lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it can bring mankind into the fold of believers in Jesus. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."
Santa looked at the tree and all the items that were displayed…and then, he smiled a big smile. 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 make me the central figure…, for I am but a humble servant of the One who is…and, I bow down to worship Him, our Lord and Savior.
- Anonymous
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This Christmas, remember that it’s not about how many gifts you receive…as Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35b
“Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.” James 1:17
God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. 1 John 4:9 NLT
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV
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