When did you quit believing in Santa Claus?  Me?  I dunno.  Probably a lot older than I should have.  But, heck!  Believing was most of the fun.  Besides, I had a sister who is almost seven years younger the I am and I didn’t want to ruin the fun for her. 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

There’s something special about the anxiety and anticipation in kids when they’re giddy with excitement about Saint Nick dropping some toys off at their house.  I always got a kick out of watching our daughter as she sat on the big guy’s lap, telling him her list of wants and desires.  The child-like shyness and wonder always put a smile on my face.

It was not until she was in her late teens or early twenties did we learned that Mr. Claus always kind of creeped her out.  She was also just a tad disturbed that some stranger, Mr. Claus though-he-be, could just drop in to our home while we slept and did as he pleased.  She felts so . . . violated.

One of the funniest memories I have of kids and Santa Claus was when our pastor’s granddaughter visited Nick for the first time.  Why I was there, I don’t know but I’ve never forgotten this event.  The little girl sat there, cherub-like, while the obligatory picture was taken to commemorate the event.  I couldn’t help but notice Santa had an odd look on his face.

The picture was snapped.  Everybody said, “Oh, how precious”.  Everybody, that is, except SC.  As the cherub was being retrieved by her parents, there, bold as lightning, was a big wet spot on Mr. Nicholas’s trousers. 

He was not happy despite being left with a warm feeling.

Well, my little cherub is in her mid twenties now and the trips to dump a wish list on the fat guy in red are long gone, much to my chagrin.  And, until we’re blessed with the little hellion’s often referred to as “grand kids” start to ask why we’re never at home when they come by to see us, we’ll likely not experience those events for a while.

However, there are ways to experience that warmth – no, not THAT warmth – found when a child receives gifts from Santa.

We’ve started buying just a little bit less for ourselves and drop off toys with one of the local toy drives.  I am told of some people who know of a family where the breadwinner has lost their job and those more fortunate make it possible for the breadwinner to provide gifts for their family while maintaining some pride and dignity.  Still others adopt a soldier serving our country overseas and send gifts to them.  Still others go with their family on Christmas day and work at one of the kitchens that serve dinner to the needy. 

In some way, shape or form, we can be a Santa to someone in need.  As Tommy Chong said in “Santa Claus and His Old Lady”, “We could use a dude like that right now!”

By doing so, you can get that warm feeling all over without the muss and fuss of having to take your clothes to the cleaners.