Wednesday August 5, 2020
Sue Nalewajk
BELIEVE
Do you believe in Santa Clause?
As a curious child, I asked my mother that question when I was about five years old. To my horror, she actually told me, “No, there is no Santa.” I was dumfounded and distraught. She could have told me one of those white lies about Christmas living in everyone’s heart, or that the spirit of Santa is alive and well, but, no. How can you have Christmas without Santa Clause?
My mother also read me books which I enjoyed immensely. At Christmas, after I got the bad news, she read me a poem by Phyllis McGinley, “The Year Without a Santa Clause.” The poem teaches about the joy that kids had when they gave Christmas to Santa because he wanted a vacation from Christmas. I loved this story and even read it to my kids when they were young. Why did I love it so much? I think it was because giving joy to others (not just presents) allowed me to believe in Christmas again, to realize that Christmas was bigger than Santa Clause. The gift of giving was integral to the promise of Christmas.
Fast forward a few more years, including many years of Church School, I learned that God gave us his son Jesus on Christmas, to live and serve us as the purveyor of love. My child’s mind was thinking, “Is Jesus really Santa?” The transition was easy for me to make, having a hole in my heart about belief in Santa at Christmas.
“But can I trust this guy Jesus?” my youthful mind queried. (Maybe “trust” will be next week’s reflection word.) I learned of the many parables he told - the mustard seed (which we are hearing now), the good Samaritan, the woman at the well, the wine at the wedding, and the list goes on. Because of my understanding of and trusting in these stories, I could indeed believe “this guy.”
So, to believe, I had to trust. As an adult, I have found this to be a good tenet. In fact, my favorite Bible verse talks of trust. From Proverbs 3: 5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge him (believe in him), and he will direct your path.
So, do you believe in Santa Clause? I sure do.