santa’s manifesto
Thursday, 24 December 2009
{After a compromise with my wife in how I handle the reality of Santa Claus with our daughters, I became frustrated and decided a manifesto in the pen of Santa. Hopefully through this we can could some idea of Santa while keeping a correct context for it all. Here is Santa’s Manifesto for your enjoyment and edification.}
Dear Raine & Ezmah,
I am so happy to have been able to visit you wonderful girls tonight. I have heard how you have both have been great children for your parents. I hope you like what I have left you.
It seems that I have been misconstrued within the media outlets as well as in many books and movies alike. I would like to take the opportunity to describe to you who I really am and why it is I do what I do.
While I may deliver gifts to children on this one special night each year, it seems that everyone forgets to explain why it is that I actually do it. It seems that sadly most people are too caught up in getting instead the real gift, which is giving (not that you are like that, I know how wonderfully giving and thoughtful of others you are Raine, and I’m sure you, Ezmah, will be too as you get older).
There are two important role models in my life that I have looked to for inspiration throughout the ages, Jesus Christ and secondly Saint Nicholas. Let me tell you a few things about each of them so that you might begin to love them and as well understand who I am, besides white bearded & jolly.
Jesus Christ is “the reason for the season” as they say. He was the one who started it. I’m sure you’ve heard the story of his birth. It is popular this time of year. But do you remember *why*? Jesus was God’s gift to you, me, and the rest of the world. God gave Jesus so he could come and die for our sins so we wouldn’t have to. That is the biggest gift possible to give–to give your son so that, that son could save the world.
When we remember the goodness of God and his gift, it naturally causes us to want to give also. That is where St. Nicholas comes in.
St. Nicholas loved God so much, that he then loved everyone else as much. He was a priest for a poor town. He would get everything he could to help people out so they could make it. One of the things he would do, is to put gifts of food & clothing on people’s doorsteps at night as to help them while not letting anyone know what he did.
What I do today follows in the line of these two men. I give presents to little girls like you two just like St. Nicholas gave to children in need centuries ago. But just like St. Nicholas we don’t just do it for ourselves, but it always points back to Christ and what he did for you and me.
Santa Claus