Harry has reached the age where he is starting to comprehend the Santa phenomenon.   The Santa debate is one that I really just don’t want to be a part of.  I have heard all the arguments about how belief in Santa is lying to your children, how traumatized people where when they found out that Santa didn’t exist, and how it diminishes the meaning of the Christmas season.

Folks, I ain’t buying any of it.

I don’t remember being particularly scandalized when my best friend, Bonnie, broke the news to me that Santa was a myth.  I already had deep-seated suspicions based on the uncanny resemblence of Santa’s signature to my mother’s distinctive, elegant penmanship.  Any momentary disappointment I felt was far overbalanced by the previous many years of simple childhood magic.  Wonder, of the innocent, benign variety is something that my adult world sorely lacks and I will not steal one moment of it from my son.

And wonder is the spirit of Christmas, isn’t it?  

Harry knows that Christmas is Jesus’s birthday.  Of course, he is possessive of birthdays, and would like to lay claim to every birthday for himself.  Thankfully, Jesus is happy to share – Suffer the little children to come unto me, and all that.  Because Jesus shares his birthday with all of us, Harry knows that Santa brings all the boys and girls presents.  We have our creche under the tree.  And we have Santa.

That, in a nutshell, is the meaning of Christmas.

Christ came to bring His Kingdom to all the people of the world, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, and to instruct us to share our earthly kingdom with each other.  

‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40

To aspire to be Christ is not something I have the arrogance to do.  But I know I can be Santa.

While you are buying your presents this year, take a moment to remember those who are the least of our human family.

Got family that doesn’t appreciate those home-made gifts this year?  I know a few little boys and girls who will:

Afghans for Afghans

Project Linus

Binky Patrol

Mother Bear Project

Or did you buy supplies with the best of intentions to MAKE those homemade gifts and time got the best of you?  These folks could make good use of them:

The Kateri Circle

How about letting our brothers and sisters far from home know that we are still thinking of them?

The Ship Project

Spend a little of your time and labor to reach out and let a complete stranger in your town, your country or halfway around the world know that you care about them on Christmas.  Or simply write out a check to your charity of choice – in these times they need what you can spare.  Buy a little less and give a little more.   

Go Be Santa.  

Help make sure that he doesn’t miss the least of these, those who need him the most.

Peace on Earth.  Merry Christmas.