This post originally appeared on The HSBA Post on December 25, 2011.
I’m not sure how I discovered that my parents acted as Santa Claus. But I distinctly remember the sinking feeling. I also remember quickly making the connection for the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Within five minutes all mysticism in my life had vanished.
Ten years later, it all came back.
It was the middle of the 80s. My parents were recently divorced. My dad was in oil and gas and had been laid off. We had no money. Mom said we were broke — not poor. But it sure felt like we were poor.
We had Christmas lights and ornaments from all the past years. We lived in the country so we got a tree from the “backyard.” It required a couple of long needle East Texas pines wired together, but it worked.
And we were told not to expect to find much underneath it on Christmas Day.
Strange Phone Calls
I remember overhearing a conversation my mom was having on the phone in mid-December.
“We have water and electricity and food. It’s not much, but we’ll be okay. <pause> Really? But I’m sure there are many other families in more need than we are. <pause> I see. Well if that’s the case, yes. We would appreciate it very much. Thank you.”
My best friend called with an interesting question. “We’ve exchanged names for family Christmas, and I’ve drawn the name of a cousin that’s about your little brother’s age. I don’t have any idea what to get for him. Can you ask him what he likes, and maybe that will help me?”
Looking back, there were many other strange and unusual phone calls the two weeks leading up to Christmas.
A Christmas Eve Like No Other
On Christmas Eve we had a constant flow of visitors. A local car dealership showed up offering a bag filled with wrapped presents. Some people from my best friend’s church came by with three bags of gifts. Another church sent a handful of representatives with a huge basket of turkey and dressing and all the fixings. Friends and churches from all over the neighborhood, and even people we’d never met, were showing up to share with us.
It was so amazing to see such love and caring — and for it to come our way. I was too young to really understand the generosity, but I knew it was special. Very special.
We went to midnight mass, as we always did, and mom was crying just a little more than normal.
A Magical Christmas Morning
Christmas day was insane. Santa Claus had really come.
I remember opening presents and seeing mom’s face. In years past her look was of excitement to see if we liked what she had given. This year, she had a different look. She was truly curious. And she was excited and amazed that her young children wouldn’t have to know the heartache of an empty Christmas morning.
I’m quite sure it didn’t occur to her, though, that the gifts the community had shared included one more: believing that people really can love one-another. The very heart of Christianity.
The Gifts of God
Jesus gave us a gift with His death. We get to live in Him forever. But with His birth, He also gave us a special gift, one that we get right now. He gave us generosity and love to share with each other. And at Christmas, that comes out in the shape of a fat, old, hairy, jolly character we call Santa Claus. A man who’s famous for his generosity.
I hope that no one ever has to be poor or even broke. While it wasn’t easy going through that part of my childhood, I am thankful for the lessons we learned. I am grateful that I was able to see first hand the generosity and love of my fellow man that Christmas.
Merry Christmas… and may we all be filled with the Christmas spirit!
Leave a Reply