Karla’s Korner: The Santa Spirit

The Santa Spirit

He was eight, maybe nine years old when he crawled up next to his momma and said “Momma, I been thinkin”. “What about son?” she asked. “Momma, there really isn’t a Santa Claus is it?” With a tear in her eye and a lump in her throat she decided it was time to tell him the truth. Santa, she said was just a fun idea, a fairytale of sorts and that it was in fact her and his dad who had put all of those presents under the tree for all those years. Just like that everything changed; or so she thought. That little boy is my now 16 year old son and as I think about that day I wonder if my answer was what I really believe; is there really a Santa Claus?

According to Wikipedia Santa Claus is a “figure with legendary, historical and folkloric origins who, in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on December 24, the night before Christmas Day.” After reading the entire legend, history and folkloric tale I begin to form an image, and idea in my mind of what I believe Santa Claus is like. I begin to think that maybe Santa is real in the sense that the spirit of Santa is delivered in gifts through others setting the premise of giving; the spirit of Christmas. I think that Santa lives in all of us; in our spirits.

Walking into the local Walmart this week I nearly tripped over Santa greeting people from an oversized chair by the front door. Intrigued by the responses of those who entered the store, it was evident that being Santa was a pretty big deal. Even the grumpiest of shoppers turned their frowns upside down when they walked in and saw the big guy sitting there. Small children with smiles on their faces and Christmas wishes in their hearts eagerly waited for their turn to tell Santa what it was they wanted for Christmas. I wonder what it is that makes Santa well…Santa. What I saw was a Walmart employee dressed up in a red suit wearing a wig and a fake beard but what those little children saw was Santa Claus; the giver of toys, the granter of Christmas wishes a symbol of hope for good things to come.

This past week I read a story of a six year old little girl in Utah who has inoperable brain cancer. Her name is Addie; she is dying. Addie’s Christmas wish is simple. She wants people to send her Christmas cards. As Addie’s story poured through news outlets and social media folks all over the world began to send cards to a little girl they will never know. Cards are pouring in by the thousands and with each one a smile to Addie’s face. Not only is Addie and her family dealing with the difficulties of her illness, Addie’s father passed away unexpectedly last week leaving the family with more grief to bear. The cards, her mother says brings joy to Addie and her family and are appreciated beyond words. A Christmas wish filled by those filled with the spirit of Santa Claus.

As I sit this week in the glow of my Christmas tree filled with ornaments that tell the story of my family and our Christmas traditions I think about the many opportunities there are to fill a Christmas wish or spread a bit of Santa’s spirit in my world. Lending a hand to a neighbor in need, dropping off a used coat to the neighborhood coat drive, filling an extra bag of groceries for the food bank or toys for the toy lift are all ways to share in the spirit of Santa. But what happens when Santa, the reindeer and that crazy little elf on the shelf return to the North Pole? What happens when we un-deck our halls and put the couch back where it belongs? Do we forget about that giving spirit or do we carry it on throughout the year? What if we kept that same spirit alive all year long? What if we gave more of ourselves all year? What if we took the time to check on an elderly neighbor, share a meal with someone, or volunteer our time helping others instead of looking after ourselves for the next 10 months? My faith tells me that Christmas is more than gifts, trees, lights and an abundance of food. As a Christian Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and while I recognize that not everyone shares the same faith or spiritual beliefs that I do, I believe that we all can embrace the idea that giving of ourselves, our time, talents and compassion to others in the same way we do at Christmas.

I encourage you to maintain the spirit of Christmas, the true spirit of faith, family, fellowship, love and giving of yourself to others. Set aside the chaos of shopping and the need for perfection and embrace each moment as a gift to be shared, savored and enjoyed with the world around you. As you begin to prepare for the New Year, make a resolution to keep the spirit of Christmas active in your life all year long. Life is an incredible gift that we should share with others. Live it. Love it. Share it. Enjoy it and make it better for someone else along the way. Legendary writer and film star Dale Evans summed it beautifully when she said “Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”

Peace,
Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Read more Karla’s Korner, also please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.

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