The True Meaning of Christmas...religious

[Guest guest]

I " m not sure who wrote this but it was too good not to share.

might know.

Angie

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 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.

" 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 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 bad 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 berries 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. "

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 shepherd's

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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