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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."


Rhonda