"Here Comes Santa Claus"
Words
WARNING--Tiny Tim's feeling grouchy and nit-picky today!
So, this is a fun song about Christmas cheer and getting ready for Santa Claus and the anticipation of Christmas. All good things. Yet--there's this mixed up verse about Santa Claus loving the rich and poor the same as they are all God's children and another about saying your prayers. Yup, I feel like ranting again.
Yet--it is Christmas time. As I'm writing this there are volunteers, including my kids, helping to sort and pack gifts for people as part of our city's Holiday Fund. I've seen first hand the joy when churches or organizations adopt a family and really do provide beyond expectations. I've seen those tears of gratitude.
I've seen single moms come home with a toy from Toys for Tots that they never could have bought themselves. I was able to enjoy three Christmases when a number of churches and individuals adopted young, single moms who live in a maternity home and showered them with presents and food. They provided necessities, but also gave according to the moms' wish lists. There are giving trees and sharing trees and Operation Christmas Child and so much more. We are very blessed to have so many chances to make a difference.
Maybe I'm wrong to feel cynical about this song. Maybe Santa Claus does love every child the same. Maybe he counts on us helping him every Christmas. Maybe he counts on us helping throughout the year so people who have been helped can turn around and help others--as so many of them do. Maybe God is counting on us to do the same as well. To be His hands and feet reaching out and helping not so people can experience the spirit of Christmas, but can know the Spirit of God. May we love all year round.
I feel that it is the spirit of the season - to help mankind, Santa's giving is an example.
ReplyDeleteI love the many opportunities to teach my daughter how to look at the holiday as a way to be of service to others instead of buying into the commercialism aspect of it...how someone might have more than us, but others have much less. How we can bring joy to others with food drives, giving trees, bell ringing and more.
Sadly, these are so visible the rest of the year - so, as parents, we have to be more creative in our lessons. Visits to the animal shelter and "puppy parties", school kits for Luther World Relief, letting them put the weekly offereing in the church basket, and the daily example of how we address others...
No need to be cynical, some people can't relate to a tiny baby bringing joy into their lives, so Santa has to do the job for them until they can
:)