The True Meaning of Christmas

So every year I try and find this story about the true meaning of Christmas, and I never can. I FINALLY (After MANY long hours of looking) found it. So I'm posting it so I can just find it online next year when I want it. Hopefully you'll enjoy it too.

The True Meaning of Christmas

I had a visitor last night and this is how it happened. I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise downstairs. I opened the door and to my surprise, Santa Claus stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.

I started to ask Santa what he was doing when I noticed tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager soul we all know.

Then he answered me with a simple statement, "Teach the children," he said. I was puzzled - What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement, he brought forth a toy bag from behind the Christmas tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said again, "Teach the children - teach them the old meaning of Christmas, the meaning that Christmas nowadays has forgotten."

I started to say, "How can I?" when Santa reached into his toy bag and brought out a SHINY STAR.

"Teach the Children that the star was the Heavenly sign of promise long ages ago. God himself provided a Savior for the world and the star was a sign of the fulfillment of that promise. The countless shining stars at night, one for each man, now show the burning hope of all mankind."

Santa quietly hug the star on the tree and drew from his bag a glittering RED CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT. "Teach the children that Red is the first color of Christmas. It was used by faithful people to remind them of the blood which was shed for all the people by the Savior. Christ gave his life and shed his blood that every man might have God's gift of Eternal Life. Red is deep, intense, vivid, it is the greatest color of all. It is a symbol of the gift of God."

Santa hung the red ornament on the Christmas tree.

The deep green of the FIR TREE was a perfect background for the ornament. Here was the second color of Christmas.

"Teach the children that the pure green color of the fir tree remains green all year round," he said. This depicts the everlasting hope of mankind. Green is the youthful, hopeful, abundant color of nature. All the needles point Heavenward, symbol of man's returning thoughts toward heaven. The great green tree has been man's best friend. It has sheltered him, warmed him, made beauty for him."

Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound..."Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the BELL, it should ring for man to return to the fold - it means guidance and return. It further signifies that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord."

As the soft tinkling of the bell faded into the night, Santa drew forth a candle. He placed it on the table and the soft glow from its tiny flame cast a glow about the room. "Teach the children," Santa whispered, "That the candle shows man's thanks for the star of long ago. Its small light is the mirror of starlight. At first, candles were placed on the trees. They were like many glowing stars shining against the dark green. The colored lights have now taken over in remembrance."

Santa then drew out a gift. He pointed to the large BOW and said, "A bow is placed on a present to remind us of the spirit of brotherhood. We should remember that the bow is tied as men should be tied, all of us, together, with the bonds of good will towards each other. Good will forever is the message of the bow."

Santa drew from his toy bag a CANDY CANE and said, "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the staff helps bring back the strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane represents the helping hand we should show at Christmas time. The candy cane symbolizes that we are our brother's keeper."

As Santa looked around the room, he had a good feeling and he knew that I had learned many things tonight.

Last, but not least, Santa reached into his bag and brought out a HOLLY WREATH.

He said, "Please teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love and never ceases, stops, or ends. It should remind us of all the things of Christmas."

The last thing Santa said as he opened the door to leave was, "PLEASE TEACH THE CHILDREN THE OLD MEANING OF CHRISTMAS."