THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

The Sixth Word


Just the week before Christmas, I had a visitor.  
This is how it happened.
  
I had 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 of  the front room,
and to my surprise, Santa Claus himself stepped out from 
behind the Christmas tree.  He placed his fingers over his mouth so I would 
not cry out.

"What are you doing..." I started to ask, but the words choked up in my throat 
as 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 of "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 
there bewildered, Santa said again, "Teach the children.  Teach them the old 
meaning of Christmas -- the meanings that Christmas nowadays has forgotten."

I started to say, "How can I..." when Santa reached in the toy bag and pulled 
out a brilliant shiny star.  "Teach the children the star was the heavenly 
sign of promise long ages ago.  God promised a savior for the world and the 
star was a sign of the fulfillment of that promise.  The countless shining 
stars at night -- one for each man --- now show the burning hope of all 
mankind."  Santa gently laid the star upon the fireplace mantle and drew forth 
from the bag a glittering red Christmas tree ornament.

"Teach the children red is the first color of Christmas.  It was first used by 
the faithful people to remind them of the blood which was shed for all the 
people by the Savior.  Christ gave His life and shed His blood that every man 
might have God's gift of Eternal Life.  Red is deep, intense, vivid -- it is 
the greatest color of all.  It is the symbol of the gift of God."

"Teach the children," he said as he dislodged a small Christmas tree from the 
depths of the toy bag.  He placed it before the mantle and gently hung the red 
ornament on it.  The deep green of the fir tree was a perfect background for 
the ornament.  Here was the second color of Christmas.

"The pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round," he 
said.  "This depicts the everlasting hope of mankind.  Green is the youthful, 
hopeful, abundant color of nature.  All the needles point heavenward -- 
symbols of Man's returning thoughts toward Heaven.  The great green tree has 
been man's best friend.  It has sheltered him, warmed him, made beauty for 
him."  Suddenly, I heard a soft tinkling sound.

"Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the 
bell, it should ring for man to return to the fold -- it means guidance and 
return.  It further signifies that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord.  
As the soft sound of the bell faded into the night, Santa drew forth a candle. 
 He placed it on the mantle and the soft glow from its tiny flame cast a glow 
about the dardened room.  Odd shapes in shadows slowly danced and weaved upon 
the walls.

"Teach the children," whispered Santa, "that the candle shows man's thanks for 
the star of long ago.  Its small light is the mirror of starlight.  At first, 
candles were placed on the trees -- they were light many glowing stars shinging 
against the dark green.  The colored lights have now taken over in 
remembrance."

Santa turned the small Christmas tree lights on and picked up a gift from 
under the tree.  He pointed to the large bow and said, "A bow is placed on a 
present to remind us of the spirit of the brotherhood of man.  We should 
remember that the bow is tied as men should be tied, all of us together, with 
the bonds of good will toward each other.  Good will forever is the message of 
the bow."

Santa slung his bag over his shoulder and began to reach for the candy cane 
placed high on the tree.  He unfastened it and reached out toward me with it.

"Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook.  The 
crook on the staff helps bring back the strayed sheep to the flock.  The candy 
can represents the helping hand we should show at Christmas time.  The candy 
cane is the symbol that we are our brothers' keepers."

As Santa looked about the room, a feeling of satisfaction shone in his face.  
He read wonderment in my eyes, and I am sure he sensed admiration for this 
night.

He reached into his bag and brought forth a large holly wreath.  He placed it 
on the door and said, "Please teach the children the wreath symbolizes the 
eternal nature of love; it never ceases, stops, or ends.  It is one continuous 
round of affection.  The wreath does double duty.  It is made of many things 
and in many colors.  It should remind us of all the things of Christmas.

Again, Santa whispered, "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas."

(This story is accompanied by a tiny red velvet bag with 
all of the above mentioned items in it.)

Author unknown - if you know the author, please e-mail me so proper credit can be given to this beautiful story.
And a special thanks to my friends Cathy and Dave of Ocean Shores, Washington (our former home) for sending this to me.

I do hope you enjoyed the above story. It touched my heart.
May each of you have a blessed holiday season.
Pamela Pauley-Perreault



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