Christmas is my favourite time of year - but this year I've been a little out of sync with my usual Christmas-y, optimistic self. My family was here this weekend and we all decorated our apartment; nothing like some Christmas lights to lift your spirits right? Well yes they make me happy but I still haven't been feeling 100% - until about 5 minutes ago.
Before I tell you why, let me explain something about my Mom (and myself to be honest). She still gives Santa presents (I should also tell you I am almost 22 years old) and insists on referring to Santa as someone other than herself - much to my boyfriends reminders that Santa doesn't exist.
My Mom is the ultimate Santa believer and even though I forgot, so am I. Tonight, I read a blog post (find it
here) that put the Christmas and Santa love back into my heart.
You can read the blog post for further detail, but to be short; a mother was asked by her daughter if she was really Santa - and this is what the mother wrote.
Dear Lucy,
Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: “Are you Santa?”
I
know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and
I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.
I
am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also
choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for
me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Daddy helps, too.)
I
imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will
love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will
love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with
Christmas lights.
This won’t make you Santa, though.
Santa
is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of
us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches
children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.
It’s
a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will
need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your
talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you
can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love,
that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even
during its darkest, coldest moments.
Santa is a teacher, and I
have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down
all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people
whose hearts he’s filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.
So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.
I love you and I always will.
Mama
In these wonderful words I found Christmas again, and reaffirmed why my Mom, and myself will always believe in Santa Claus.
