Teach Your Children

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 color of
the stately fir tree remains green all year around, 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 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 Savior.  The red holly represents 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 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
Savior'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 sounds 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
center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow
down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."