Yes, (Insert Name Here), There Is A Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a controversial figure, but I want to raise you to pay heed to the spirit of generosity that this season reflects. If it takes a fat man in a red suit being led from house to hacienda all across the world by a team of reindeer to show generosity to All Men then, that is something that I can work with. Generosity sometimes needs a flamboyant larger than life example, and sometimes Santa Claus is that person. I'm all for examples of inclusiveness to show this point. You know there are a lot of bad children out there that don't deserve gifts, but they get them from Santa just the same. Even the children that we think of as being self-centered little brats. All they do is ask and they recieve. No, make that demand and recieve! Santa seems like a pretty generous fellow to go through all the trouble to do all this, but nobody ever thanks him or gives him a second thought until Christmas. Now I know that I'm not at all deserving of any of life's rich blessings that I have recieved, but they were poured out to me anyway. Not by any noble act or accomplishment on my part. Not by any right or entitlement, or even by demanding, but just by humbly asking for the gift. Then I even got some gifts that I didn't even ask for. Those turned out to be the really good ones. I'm all for the generosity that we show each other and even to total strangers, especially at Christmas. Angel trees, salvation army bell ringers, and even random carolers entertaining shoppers at the mall are all ways that strangers are evangelized to by people who love to give. Christmas is most definitely not about the gifts but the Spirit by which they are given and the kindness that we show each other in doing so. We may call these people crazy, roll our eyes, or try to avoid them, but we are glad that they care enough to do these kinds of things. All for total strangers. I'll bet that if these giving people put this much effort on total strangers then they must really know how to shower their own families with love. Sometimes these people are thanked for their giving, often they are not. They do it regardless. Giving just makes you feel good and people like to feel good. One year I went on a mission trip to West Virginia to deliver Christmas gifts to a very poor community. We collected bikes, baby dolls, any kind of toy you could imagine. We also gave coats and lots of clothing too. These people literally had nothing of material value and lived under a cloud of shame because of their living conditions. We gave many fuel vouchers so families could have warmth in their homes or even finally have their gas turned on for the winter. We also gave bags of groceries to each family. The hope they recieved along with these presents was life changing in that moment. Hope like that is what people need just to make it through the day. Giving those gifts was certainly life changing for me. Giving hope can change your whole perspective on gift giving. Undeserved gifts, gifts of generosity to fellow men, life changing gifts, and the gift of hope. These are what we really give and recieve at Christmas. Sometimes people will respond to gifts like that from Santa and noone else. For that reason, I put up with it...and yes, Virginia, it may even take Santa to help demonstrate God's unconditional love for us sometimes.