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 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 that 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 of Christmas that
nowadays has been 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 color 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 Savior for the world,
and the star was the sign of the 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 Claus, 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
Savior. The red holly berries represent the
blood that He shed for us."
Next he pulled
from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved
the world that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life." (John
3:16) "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 shepherd's crook.
The crook on the staff helps to bring strayed sheep back to the
flock. The candy cane is the symbol that
we are our brother's keeper. It also symbolizes with the red stripe that by His
blood we are cleansed and made free and as pure and white as the white part of
the candy cane."
He reached in
again and pulled out an ANGEL.
"Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded the
glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace to men of good will."
Suddenly I
heard a soft tinkling 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 bring 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 center for
I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him,
Our Lord, Our God." - copied
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
Ebooks from LifeWay - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Books-&-Magazines/eBooks?emid=CW-PastorsToday-20121119
FOR STAFF LEADERSHIP: GBACE Annual
Conference, January 24, 2013 at Mabel White Baptist Church, Macon - http://www.gbace.org/
FOR EDUCATION LEADER TRAINING: Go Forward
Conference, March 14-15, 2013, FBC/Woodstock - http://sundayschoolinhd.org/
FOR VBS: Colossal Coaster World Sampler
- http://www.lifeway.com/Product/vbs-2013-colossal-coaster-world-sampler-p005487573
FOR VBS: Colossal Coaster World Super
Sampler - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/vbs-2013-colossal-coaster-world-super-sampler-P005487652?intcmp=LWMain-Best3-VBSSuperSampler-20121105
FOR COMMUNITY BACKYARD KIDS CLUB:
Colossal Coaster Backyard Kids Club Kit - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/vbs-2013-colossal-coaster-world-backyard-kids-club-p005532691
FOR CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM: Discipleship in
Context can provide a short term or ongoing Bible
studies that are
customized to your church’s culture and focus - http://discipleshipincontext.com/
FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: All Pro Dad
simulcast, January 26, 2013 with Tony Dungy, Clark Kellogg, Tommy Bowden - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Adult-Event-All-Pro-Dad-Simulcast
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: How Can I Know?
Answers to Life’s 7 Most Important Questions by Robert Jeffress - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/how-can-i-know-answers-to-lifes-7-most-important-questions-leader-kit-P005511206
FOR SMALL GROUPS: The God Anthology by
Mark Batterson - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/god-anthology-dvd-leader-kit-P005539341
