Imagine my families surprise and delight when we got a package delivered to us from Santa. Inside it included several gifts of comfort and sweet words on a caring card offering blessings of God and Christmas. My heart was so full. I don’t know if there is a word to describe all of the positive feelings that this provided for my kids and me.
The gift in it that made me cry the most was the ornament of the nativity. I had just mourned the loss of throwing away Christmas decorations and memories including ornaments that we collected over the last 21 years of marriage. I had one almost exactly like the one I received that I bought with what little money we had in our first year of marriage. I wanted a nativity for our place but this was perfect for the life circumstance of being newly married with dual purpose of ornament and nativity.
I felt guilt as I threw away this ornament containing the Christ child. It took me some time to really let it go as I debated and stared at in the garbage. I loved that ornament but the memory attached hurt too much.
I know that Santa didn’t know this story because until now nobody did. It was a sadness in only my heart. But God knew and He works through other people.
One of my favorite scriptures is Mark 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” I depend on God more than ever before to help lighten my burden and it is often through others I am reminded He is mindful of even little old me.
May we take time to look around us this season and be anonymous in our actions. I know that getting this gift makes me love everyone that much more because the generous surprise may have come from them. Let’s be Christ’s hands and serve each other and pray to be in tune how we can love and support each other better everyday. Thank you for the reminder that I believe in Santa. And I believe in Him!