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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. 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 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."
Author:Unknown
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