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Just a week before Christmas I had
a visitor. 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 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 Claus, symbolize the generosity and goodwill 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, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.'
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."
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