No one dreams of aging to the point you mirror a serious resemblance to Santa Claus, but when this happens, the good guys embrace it and invest in a red suit with all the accessories. It’s one of life’s delightful surprises, to realize the mystery of Saint Nicolas and his legendary deeds of benevolence, have fallen upon you and suddenly you attain super hero status. As for me, I’m the lucky girl that gets to snuggle up to a jolly ole elf all year long.
Bringing St. Nick to life each Yuletide was great fun. Just another adventure for one who loves people and seeks to bring them joy. The glamour lasted until an innocent child climbed onto ‘Santa’s’ knee and asked him to make her mommy and daddy love each other again.
While Santa, (aka Keith) had the advantage of disguise, this child did not. Keith knew well the story behind the request and was very aware that unless two people gave their hearts to Jesus and allowed Him to redeem and restore, there was no hope for this young family to live in unity ever again.
Children intuitively know something intimate happens to bring them into being and when those two people who once shared great passion, then marveled at ten tiny toes, can no longer stand the sight of each other, it disturbs and interrupts their world profoundly. Being an ambassador to childhood’s wonder and hope brought both Keith and I to a place of helplessness, but also a determination to live better in love and allow the power of God’s grace and mercy to become the hallmark of all our relationships.
Several years earlier our own child, upon being encouraged to pray about a similar concern, announced that she was finished with God because He didn’t answer her plea. She had been taught that He could do anything He wanted, so He must be as fake as the Easter Bunny! She had the evidence to prove it. Fortunately, she matured and came to understand free will and the complications of inter-personal relationships, but I will never forget her broken heart over the pain of a friend’s divided home.
I understand disappointment and deceit, pain and sorrow, and the utter depths of despair. I also know the transformation of forgiveness, redemption and restoration. Man’s fallen state brings ruin, but Jesus’ blood makes makes ALL things new.
If you believe the next best gadget will pacify a child and cover a multitude of personal failures, you are mistaken. Children want to be loved and to witness love generously and extravagantly extended to others. Righteous behavior, holiness of heart, commitment and determination are the best gifts under the Christmas Tree. Santa can’t provide this, only mom and dad can.
Love is patient and kind. It protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres and rejoices in truth. It is not proud or self-seeking, it does not boast, dishonor, anger easily or delight in evil. Love NEVER fails. Prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, knowledge will pass away, but love will remain.
I Corinthians 13:4-8 paraphrased.
Love matters a lot. Don’t say if you don’t mean it and if you say it, commit to it forever!
Love,
Gretchen