Sometimes I think this gift giving and Santa Claus puts a damper on the real purpose of Christmas, but it is miraculous to watch Jesus' cause overturn Satan's claws. This year I saw it. Someone plays Santa every year at our house. It's our tradition. It causes a little more order. It allows everyone to 'ooh and aah' over everything. And it's meant to give that one person a little more attention. We all need that sometimes.
It's the morning after. All is quiet. I'm journaling of the events of the past few days. I'm still. Part of me is trying to hold on to it. There were no major upsets, no arguments. There were presents. There was joy in the giving and in the receiving. We had waited to give for a long time. A long time? Well, a month, maybe two? Maybe a day or three? But that's a long time for me. When I buy for someone, I want to see the joy unfold upon them whether it is a small token, or an unexpected surprise.
There were a few gifts this year that caused reaction -a scream of delight over a pair of earrings, contemplative tears over a mug, and wild eyes of surprise over a jersey. The one that brought the tears for me was the small token of the angel ornament. A sash was draped around her waist with the words inscribed, "Where there is hope, there are miracles". It wasn't the cost, it wasn't the size, it wasn't even the words of hope. It was the miracle of the truth of those words. The very truth of the words rose up inside of me. It was like the words I have been writing about became substance in me.
Oh the joy in the presents, and oh the joy there must have been in the presence of the long long awaited messiah. The words of the prophets were revealed in the manger. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Imagine the joy of the Father giving and watching Him be received by the shepherds. Imagine the joy in heaven when one receives Him as the true Savior He is.
The lights and the tree will come down in a few days. Our thoughts and focus will return as it was. The presents under the tree may not last. Each year will be a little different than the previous one. The one we chose to be Santa this year will change next year. Even memories may be somewhat altered. But the true things we receive and the words we speak throughout the year will become us.
The Father in heaven will keep giving His present of His presence to those who keep receiving. And there will be joy and hope.
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