Blog # 1.
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS 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 in the frount of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.
"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 noe-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 puregreen color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the ever-lasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's darkness." He again reaches 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 reaches into his bag and removes a
WREATH
and places it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreatg symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulls from the bag an
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 a
HOLLY LEAF
"Teach the children that the holly plant represents the crown of thorns woren by our Savior. The red holly berries represent 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 only 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 strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cain is the symbol that we are our brothers 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, peace on earth and good will toward man."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a
BELL
"Teach the children that as the last sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guigence 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 a humble servent of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, our LORD, our GOD."
