Teach the children

[Guest guest]

Hi - got this from another list. Thought I'd share

with you all. I know a couple of you said you taught

ccd or faith formation and you could probably use this

too.

Judi

Subject: Teach the Children

Lest We Forget

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 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 and 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... " " 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 a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow

down to worship Him, our Lord, our God. "

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