I still remember the day I found out Santa Claus wasn’t real. At least in human form.
I was seven years old and one of the neighbor kids took it upon herself to break it to me gently.
“What are you? Stupid?” She laughed, satisfied her disclosure had hit its mark. “There’s no Santa Claus. Moms and Dads are the ones who leave stuff under the Christmas tree—not some fat guy in a red suit.”
Certain that my once-in-a-while playmate was fibbing, I tried to shove the hurtful words aside.
Stupid. No Santa Claus. Some fat guy in a red suit.
“That’s not true!”
I shook my head no and ran to ask my mother.
Daddy was at work, but I knew Mama would indeed know the answer.
In a childlike tizzy I let the screen door slam behind me and hurried to the living room where Mama held my baby sister.
“Mama! Mama! You’ll never guess what Carol just said!”
I boohooed and blubbered. I couldn’t get the words out fast enough.
“Carol said Santa Claus isn’t real! But he is! I know he is!”
My mother sighed, paused for a moment, and then broke the awful truth.
Though I knew the real reason we celebrated Christmas was because of Jesus, I still wanted to believe in His counterpart—that magical, white-bearded fellow who added a touch of mystery and joy to one of our holiest holiday seasons.
Just like that—like the death of an old, faithful friend—one aspect of my childhood innocence was forever squashed. (Share this.)
As my silent tears fell, Mama cuddled me close with her free hand and kissed the top of my head.
“We can still believe in the spirit of Christmas, darling. No one can ever take that away. Our Heavenly Father created us with so many wonderful capabilities, one of which was imagination. And Santa Claus has been a very active part of children’s imaginations for years.”
Mama’s words, so thoughtful and measured, comforted me.
My heart still stung, but I felt a little better.
Carol didn’t know everything. She lacked imagination.
Today I understand and accept that our creativity comes from our Creator.
Christmas shouldn’t be about commercialism and all the me-centered activities that abound this time of year.
This holiday is about the One who was sent to be our personal Savior. The One who gives life and the One who breathes goodness and inspires imagination.
Still, as I look around, I get a little tingly when I encounter Santa Claus—just like I did last week at a local shopping mall.
Santa ruffled the kiddo’s curly mop and spoke in a jolly, ol’ voice. “What would you like for Christmas, son?”
“Oh. Just one thing this year, Santa.”
“What might that be?”
“A new Bible would be nice.”
Wow.
I teared up, of course.
Not a toy car, video games, or the season’s hot seller.
A Bible. The true word of God.
This requested from a friend conjured purely from imaginations centuries ago.
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Original Image Credit: Geralt/Pixabay
What do you think—would Jesus and Santa Claus be friends if Santa were real?
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Much Love and Many Blessings,
Comments 6
Lovely post.
I love your momma’s words. She comforted you in a shower of faith, hope, and love…just beautiful, Cynthia. Thank you sharing.
I wish you and yours, Merry Christmas!
Author
My mother always seemed to know just the right thing to say.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, as well, Loree!
Such a wonderful post! I think they’d be friends! Bless your heart. My parents never let us believe in Santa, but we knew not to say boo to anyone else. And we never did. Mean ole’ Carol! You should’ve pulled her hair! 😉
Author
Oh, Jessica–you made me laugh! You know, after all these years, I still remember the incident as vividly as if it were yesterday. It really was very traumatic for me at the time. Later, I came to realize that Carol was just mirroring the unhappiness she surely must have felt at home.
I remember all too well that same conversation, but couldn’t believe my parents would have told me something that wasn’t true. It was a traumatic experience. Yes, they would be friends.
Author
I heard Dr. James Dobson address this topic on a radio program, Patti. I appreciated his opinion regarding Santa, the Tooth Fairy, etc. Children are faced with the realities of life soon enough, and “make believe” is a temporary part of the growth process. Natural and quite normal.
And I definitely think Jesus and Santa would be friends, too!