Ross
Well-known member
Some of you may be offended, but the majority will not be, so I'm posting this for Christmas:
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. od 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 hs 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.
"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 an humble servant
of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD,
our GOD."
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. od 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 hs 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.
"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 an humble servant
of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD,
our GOD."
