2015 has come and gone! I think this past December was our busiest – EVER. Piano recitals, Christmas programs, ugly sweater parties and a stream of out-of-town company filled our holidays. It’s a miracle we got our animals fed and the laundry done.
We still have Santa Claus believers in our house. As our children have grown, it’s gotten a little trickier keeping the joy and spirit of Saint Nicholas alive. I’ve had to stay one step ahead of them in my hiding spots and creatively answering their never-ending questions.
Our 6-year-old son had the funniest questions this year. One afternoon he told me he was pretty sure Santa was a farmer. When I asked him why, he said this, “He must love animals, Mom. He has reindeer and he has to feed them hay. He would need a tractor to feed the hay. He probably loves all animals. He probably has pigs, horses, goats and chickens. I mean if he has reindeer, he must have other animals too.”
I went on to ask what kind of tractor he thought Santa had.
“Definitely a John Deere, Mom. It’s green and green is a Christmas color.”
This year he was adamantly asking Santa Claus to bring him a drill. He informed us that he didn’t just want a toy drill. He wanted a REAL drill, like the ones his dad uses. He spent time with one of his older sisters crafting a letter to old St. Nick outlining the want and need behind his Christmas wish. He was careful to behave this last month and when he got out of line he was quick to get back in step so he wouldn’t end up on the dreaded naughty list. He even had a supervised “practice session” using some of his dad’s tools to help fix some things to prove that he was ready to take care of and use “big boy” tools.
He asked me every day from Thanksgiving until Dec. 23 if it was Christmas yet. When I said it wasn’t, he’d ask me how many more days. Even though it was a busy month for our family, it seemed never-ending to this anxious child.
Finally on Christmas Eve these sweet children of mine participated in the re-telling of the first Christmas story at our church service. Our oldest daughter was the Star Angel and led the wise men to the place where baby Jesus resided. Our youngest daughter was part of the throng of golden angels that sang joyfully. Our oldest farmer-loving son was aptly cast in the role of a shepherd looking after the many little animals in the pageant. Finally, our youngest son was a little white sheep herded into the manger scene. It was a proud parent moment watching them participate in the story behind the true meaning of Christmas. When the service was over, our oldest son was all smiles because he knew a family party was in store at our home and the next day was one he’d been anticipating for weeks – CHRISTMAS!
On Christmas he was up at 5:45 a.m., and creeped around to see if Santa had come. He woke me up to let me know what he’d discovered. We made coffee and breakfast together before I let him wake his siblings and his dad. The wait was over – our family gathered together and he jumped for joy that “Santa” had fulfilled his Christmas wish.
We were touched by his reaction to his gift. His deepest desire is to use it to help his dad and I with whatever we might need around this place.
As you craft your resolutions for 2016, spread a little joy and help others in the 2016. Happy New Year, neighbor!
