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 nowadays,
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 Clause 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 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 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 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.
Author: Unknown
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