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 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 olde meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."
Santa then reached into his bag and pulled
out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle.
"Teach the children that the pure green colour
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 our 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 Saviour 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 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 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 Saviour.
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 into his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE
and hung it on the tree.
"Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook.
The crook on the staff helps to bring back
strayed sheep to the flock.
The candy cane is the symbol that we are are brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.
"Teach the children that it was the Angels
who heralded in the glorious news of the Saviour's birth.
The Angels sang,"Glory to God in the highest,
on earth Peace and Good Will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling 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 centre,
for I am a humble servant of the One that is,
and I bow down to Worship Him,
our Lord,
our
God.
<<+>>
~ Unknown
~ Merry Christmas!
~Beannaichte'
21 December, 2017
@beannaichte.twitter.com
~ May you know the Peace and Light of this Blessed Season,
and the Hope and Love which surrounds each one of you.
~Beannaichte'!
