"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,
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. 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 colour 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 Saviour 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 Saviour. The red holly berries represent 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 only begotten SON."
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 Saviour'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 centre, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."
CHRISTMAS
is
CHRIST
