Teach the Children

Yesterday, I had a visitor. This is how it happened...I just finished cleaning

my house and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise just outside.
I opened my front door, and to my surprise, Santa himself walked into my
living room!

He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. “What are you
doing?” I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had
tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone.

Gone was the eager, animated soul we all know. He then answered me with a
simple statement. “TEACH THE CHILDREN!” I was puzzled; what did he mean?

He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth

a miniature toy bag . As I stood bewildered, Santa said, “Teach the
children! Teach them the true meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-
a-days Christmas has forgotten.”

Santa then reached into the little red bag and pulled out a tiny Fir Tree.
“Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains
green all year round. Our Christmas trees represent eternal life, one of the
gifts from our savior. The needles point heavenward, reminding us of Jesus
and Father in Heaven.”

He again reached into the bag and pulled out a little star. “The star was the
heavenly sign of promise. Heavenly Father promised a Savior for the world
and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on the night that
Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that Heavenly Father always keeps
His promises, and that wise men still seek Him.”

He reached in again and pulled out an angel. “Teach the children that it
was the angels that proclaimed the glorious news of the Savior’s birth.”

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny light. “Teach the children
that Christmas Tree Lights remind us that Christ is the light of the world, and
we should follow his example.”
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a miniature wreath and
placed it on the tree. “Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes eternity
and the eternal nature of Christ’s love. It is a circle, without beginning and
without end.”

Next he pulled from his bag a small gift and said, “Teach the children that
Heavenly Father gave us the greatest gift of all: His son Jesus Christ. We
exchange gifts at Christmas time to show others that we love them, just as
Heavenly Father loves us.”

Santa then pulled out a red ornament for the tiny tree. “The traditional
red ornament represents Heavenly Father’s greatest gift. Teach the children
that Christ gave his life and shed his blood for them that they might have
eternal life. When they see the color red, it should remind them of that most
wonderful gift.”

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a candy cane and hung
it on the tree. “Teach the children that the candy cane represents the
shepherds’ crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to
the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper. We
should serve and love one another.”

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a tiny
bell. “Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of
the bell, it should ring mankind to the gospel. The bell symbolizes the gift of
repentance. We are always welcomed back into Jesus’ fold if we repent.”

“But where does that leave you, Santa?” I asked.

The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa’s face. “Why
bless you, my dear,” he laughed, “I’m only a symbol myself. He placed a tiny
santa ornament on the tree. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy
of giving and receiving.”

Santa gave me the miniature tree, now adorned with the symbols of Christ-
mas. He reminded me as he walked out the door, “teach the children the true
meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble
servant and I bow down to worship Him, our Lord, our God.”