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 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 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 and  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..."
 "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 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 center, for  I am but a
 humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to
 worship Him, our Lord, our God."

 Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

.