08/13/2023
I know its early for some but this needs to be put out as a reminder.... a bit long but please read and share if you feel so inclined.
What is it that many find enduring about Santa? Is it the jolly perception, the red suit, the white beard, or the idea of receiving a gift that we hope for?
From a child’s perspective I believe that all the above can be true. From a parent’s perspective sometimes, it is used to get a child to behave, do chores, and work on homework or any number of things.
Whatever the perspective, the child or parent most find the image of Santa to be that of a kind gentle old soul, that loves all things Christmas, makes toys, and delivers the same on Christmas eve. That he lives in a secret place at the North Pole and has a workshop full of elves to help him. Maybe?
Let us consider a couple of things
Firstly, the religious view. Nowhere in any scripture or doctrine is there reference to the person Santa Claus.
The persona Santa Claus is an American perversion of Dutch Sinter klaas, is it bad? Not necessarily, you see if one is careful, you can bring the concept and idea of what Santa Claus is, or should I say represents, into a good lesson for children to know, that of giving is better than receiving, giving of gifts with no requirement of, or getting anything in return and helping others in need is a blessing in itself.
Santa Claus is tied to religion though a real person, Nichols of Myra, or Saint Nicholas who is reputed to have done many charitable and miraculous things, the most well-known is giving of the necessary dowery so a father, a poor merchant, would not have to sell his remaining daughters into slavery to pay the dowery.
He is the patron saint of children for another deed he is reported to have performed that saved children from death. He is the patron saint of sailors for calming stormy seas.
The art, if you will, of giving without expectation of anything in return, not even a thank you is the lesson that is to be learned here. We try to teach children manors, respect for others, and kindness. How about including humility though Christ like behavior, service given with no expectation of recognition or reward just the pleasure to serve. Loving with the heart to those that may really not know Love.
Teaching a child these things and to not expect recognition in these days is difficult but it can be done. Scripture does not teach us to celebrate Christmas the time of the birth of Christ, but we do.
We learn from scripture of the wise men that brought three gifts, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, to the Christ child. Is this where we get the idea of giving gifts on Christmas, maybe?
Let us always remember what Christmas is about, it is not about man in a red suit sporting a white beard but, it is about the birth of Christ the greatest gift ever given.
We need to teach our children three things at the very least, Love, Respect, and Service.
With Love comes caring, concern, hope and joy.
With Respect comes honor, honesty, and a touch of humility.
With Service comes many life lessons on caring for others in need and duty.
Secondly the person that performs as Santa Claus. In this perspective I will share how I feel. As a person that portrays Santa, I hear many things mostly good but sometimes not so good things. I always hope for the good whether it is the child or the parent(s) unfortunately we sometime see and hear the bad as well, the hardships and struggles, the trouble with siblings, bullies, and illness.
As a performer I want the child to have a wonderful experience, a memory they will cherish. In the last few years as Santa, I have become a child’s counselor, confidant and yes even an advocate. I have also been a child’s prayer partner. We must be ready at all times because we never know what is coming next.
Unfortunately, there are children that come to see Santa just to talk to someone they feel they can trust and for me that is a bond with children I forever hope to keep. For the most part children are very honest about how they feel. Some do not have the ability to express themselves due to physical or emotional restrictions and one must be aware of body language to know how to approach a child. A child sometimes all they need is a warm hug from someone they trust, to make things seem or feal better for them. I want to be that person for that child whoever that child is.
For both the child and the parents I try to bring hope, comfort, love, and joy. Many of the parents and children I visit have little to nothing and bringing a bit of joy to them is important to me.
The last four or five years I have had more children surprise me by what they ask for, of course yes, I always get the toy or latest technological gadget, but more and more I hear kids ask for healing for a loved one, a gift for someone that has nothing, and my big surprise, books are asked for. Of course, I cannot make promises, but it warms my heart to hear children ask for things not for themselves but for others, parents for the most part you are doing it right, we have hope.
I love to see the wonder in a child’s face the sparkle in their eyes the giddiness in their voice or actions and yes sometimes there is fear which I try very hard to help them overcome. Unfortunately, there are those parents and grandparents that want that picture of a screaming child with Santa all that does is reinforce the child’s fear. Parents Stop, please, let the child warm up to Santa in their own time so it is a pleasant visit, don’t force the child, please. This could traumatize a small child and then you may never get the child to want to see Santa.
One more thing. This is to the parents, please do not make the most expensive gift under tree from Santa. Remember Santa is a toy maker. Children do talk with their classmates and friends and share what Santa brought them for Christmas and if you gave your child an expensive gift and say it was from Santa their friend may be from modest means and may feel dejected for getting a less expensive gift from Santa than their friend did. They may think, what did I do wrong that Santa would not give me a gift like that? Does Santa think I need to be on the naughty list? Keep the gifts from Santa simple and a toy make the big gifts from you.
Be Blessed my friends keep up the good work, walk the walk, talk the talk, be Christ like in all ways, live life to the fullest. Remember let us bring Love hope, and joy to children of all ages.
