Love this story and loved reading this with Cooper. It has helped me with trying to teach him about christmas and I wanted to share it. Enjoy!
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 front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started ask. The words chocked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual joy 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 a 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-day 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, decipting 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 promise long ago God promise a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of this promise.
He then reached into the 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 on continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag a 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 the HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represents the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled out from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
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 the strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brothers keeper."
He then reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was 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 towards men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag 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 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 eye. He said, "Remember 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." Merry Christmas!
