Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Working Daze

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Santa's Big Secret
A short story

Santa’s Big Secret

A short story by
Dan A. North
copyright 2001 - 2009 All rights reserved


Each year at Christmas time, I see the small children going to the malls and shops eager to see the child’s greatest hero of all. He does not wear a cape, he cannot stop bullets, and he cannot outrun a locomotive. In fact, the old guy is, kind of short and fat like me. His special powers are kindness, observation, insight, and patience never ending.

Each year I hear at least one child ask “Daddy, how come Santa’s eyes were blue and now they are brown?” Then I see the fear on “Daddy’s” face as he tries to explain about the magic and wonder that is Santa Claus. How do you tell a child one of life’s greatest mysteries without your child feeling as though you are lying? How do you keep the great secret that all parents have been entrusted with for centuries?

You see I have several children and have faced this question several times myself. Let me tell you a story about that jolly old elf.

Long long ago in a quiet little village not too far and a bit north from Bethlehem there lived a kindly little man with his loving wife. He was a very skilled artisan and it was said he could make anything out of nothing, just give him some time. Indeed, he was very skilled with his hands. He had the eye of an artist and could have easily been compared to Michelangelo himself, if not for one thing. He was a kid at heart.

He never took anything as seriously as he did playing with the little children in his village; he was very well known in the neighboring villages as well. His wife loved him for this, but worried that some would not understand his love of children, laughter, and life.

No, there was nothing sinister or evil about him, nothing at all. They could not have any more children and the one child they did have, had perished in an accident while saving a strangers life in a fire. The old man and his wife missed their son, but realized he had died for the greatest cause a person can die for, saving the life of another, and would not want them to grieve. Therefore, they honored his memory by rejoicing in life and the special purity of heart found only in little children and so rarely in adults.

She, being an excellent cook, homemaker, and wife, baked treats and taught the little neighbor girls the things little girls need to know. Sometimes he wondered if she was not such a kid at heart herself, though she would never admit it.

He made toys whenever he could and gave them away to each child that he came upon. His only request was that they always be kind and choose the right. If he heard of a child being mean or starting a fight, that child would not see any more toys until he made it right.

“Now you go apologize and atone for your sins, do what is right, and be good, there is one coming soon that will show you the way” he would say to them. They never quite understood, but he just smiled and held a knowing grin.

They say he knew things no one could know. He would say, “There is no great trick, you can know too, just humble your heart and pray.” Life went on for this couple pleasant and sweet. They grew older happier and wiser, but felt incomplete. All the villagers loved them, and the old man continued to give most of his works away and asked only kindness to one another in return. The village people he had helped to raise, and to whom he had taught so much, always made sure the old couple had whatever they needed.

They were like the parents of that old village and it seemed that it would never change. Each year the village council would worry about losing the old couple, since they were getting on in years and each year they were at a loss. They wanted to honor this loving old couple, and give to them trinkets and gold. They wanted the other villages to know how fortunate they were to have this couple in their midst.

The old man would have none of it. Each year he would say to the council as they approached him again “We are not heroes, nor do we need or want for anything. You keep your gold and trinkets to feed your families. Make no statues, make no fuss, just keep and obey the commandments and treat each other well.”

In fact, he had said it so many times, the villagers could almost say it along with him, and some did. This usually started everyone laughing and it was forgotten for another year.

Over time, it came to be a ritual and a time of celebration and good cheer.

One year though something changed. The old couple was frail and there was a great fear that they would not last another year. The mood in the village grew somber and tense. People were quiet and a bit sad. No one wanted to lose this beloved old couple. One day the couple started packing for a great trip. They seemed filled with joy and anticipation at the prospect of their trip, and seemed to have more energy than they had had in many months. The village council grew concerned, and tried to stop them, fearing the long journey would be too much for them. But, the old couple would not hear of it. They packed for a very long trip though they admitted when asked “We don’t know how long we’ll be gone or even were we must go, take care of yourselves we will be back soon you will see.”

That night as they left, a few of the villagers that had helped the old couple in their waning years decided to go with them promising the rest of the villagers to care for the couple, and help them return, for there was no stopping them from going on this journey. 

As they began their trip, a star appeared in the night sky, beautiful and bright as no other before or since has been. The old man pointed to it and said his voice tinged with excitement and reverence. “There’s our guide. It will lead us to something wonderful, something this old world desperately needs!” Under his breath, some heard him say, “What took you so long old friend? We were afraid we would miss you” and they did not understand.

At length they came to the town of Bethlehem, following the star to a small manger in which lay a small child in swaddling cloth. It was the baby Jesus, and upon seeing him, the old man and his wife fell to their knees and wept with joy. They knew that this child like theirs would one day give his life to save us all. As the old man looked on and wept, he produced and unwrapped, a very special gift he had, just for this child. He had poured his heart and soul into it for the past several years, sanding and polishing, and never letting anyone see it. As he handed the gift to the child he said, “I have made something special just for you little master, it’s a symbol of whom you are.” Others looked on bewildered, confused only the child’s parents Joseph and Mary seemed to understand. The gift was a Shepard’s staff and it was exquisite.

They stayed and they spoke not another word, they just sat smiling and weeping at the sight of the child that would later come to mean so much to the world.

As they were leaving, a light brighter than any other they had ever seen shone down on them and the few villagers that had come along. As their eyes focused they could see two persons standing in the light, one was their own long gone son. As he looked upon them smiling, tears of joy on his cheek, he said not a word.

Then the other spoke saying, “Hello old friends, I am glad you came. Thank you for honoring my only begotten son. You have done well in your time here. Now it is time for you to return home.” The old man and his wife looked at each other and said, “Father we know it’s our time and we are grateful, but father, if we may, a favor we ask of thee…”

Therefore, they spoke this old couple and their Heavenly Father, and at length they came to an agreement, honored to this very day. No one knows exactly what was said, though many have guessed. It is known only that great gifts, blessings, and a promise were exchanged that joyous day.

The couple did not die, nor did they stay. Instead, they went far away. And what of the villagers that joined them on their fateful trip? Some went with them; some returned to the village that special promise to keep. They gathered the parents of the village and related the story of what they had seen and the promise they made to honor the old couple, at last a way had been made possible that the old man would not argue.

Each parent was given a gift without end.
A child of their own, a little heavenly friend.
As the children grew, the parents were taught,
To keep the covenant their forefathers had wrought.
To honor the old couples heart,
Each parent in turn would be called to the part.

Each parent in his or her own way made a sacred covenant to honor the day. Each year the old couple was permitted a single day to return to each village giving toys to the children and instructions to the parents and to teach them to always remember and honor the special child born that night so long ago. The old couple knew the world would grow, and there would come a time when they could not visit each village in the short time they had.

Each year the parents around the world, having been taught the story of the old loving couple and in honor of the baby Jesus take on the part of this loving old couple, helping keep the memory alive and distributing toys and good cheer.

From time to time the old couple returns and a new story is born, whenever there is danger of the memory of that special child being lost or taken for granted. They are known by many names now but no one is certain of their true names having been forgotten long ago. The child’s name was always more important anyway, is all they will say.

Every parent is Santa, and as long as we remember the child in a manger, we honor the gifts that were given, and the greatest gift of all, that the child gave to each of us.

Always remember it is not just an old story. Keep and obey the commandments and always choose the right. Pay close attention to each Santa you see, one of them is the real Santa, one of them is me.

Monday, December 7, 2009

December 7, 1941