christmas 2019
You’re right to believe in me.
Oh, I know it’s hard sometimes. There always are people eager to tell you there isn’t a Santa Claus, that I’m just a story made up long ago and trotted out every Christmas since. I suppose I should be angry with them, but I feel sorry for them instead. Have you ever noticed that it’s always unhappy people who attack the things happy people believe in? That’s been my observation, at least, and I suppose I’ve been around long enough to know.
The Christmas Chronicles, The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guin
Up until the time my girl was in fifth grade she still believed in Santa. It’s not her fault. I was very convincing and committed. So much so that if she hadn’t believed, I would have been concerned because I had provided an overwhelming amount of super-compelling evidence.
In the fourth grade she, along with one other girl, took on an entire school playground at recess full of Santa naysayers. But my girl wasn’t having it: “Of course there really is a Santa!!!,” she exclaimed, and then added the most irrefutable proof of all: “There’s no way my parents could afford all those presents.”
A year later, she learned the truth that, technically, there is no Santa Claus. But a real Santa did exist long ago, aka Saint Nicholas, so we weren’t exactly lying to her—not really, right? But she was devastated—and I mean devastated—so much so that I needed to take action. I found a website where kids could air their grievances about being duped about Santa Claus. And my girl read other kids’ letters and then, bless her, added her own manifesto, announcing that she would never trust again.
Which led me to ask her, “But how did Santa fail you? Did he ever let you down? Did he not show up? Was he not fun?” Then I asked a whopper of a question: “Would you rather have not believed at all?”
One of my favorite children’s stories is A Snowy Day by Ezra Keats. It’s such a simple, quiet little story about faith, of all things. Peter, the little boy in the story, spends a day romping and playing in the snow. It’s the best day in his whole life. It’s so good that he needs a souvenir to commemorate the day. So he scoops up, pats and shapes a perfect snowball, and then tucks it in his pocket. But… “Before he got into bed, he looked in his pocket. His pocket was empty. The snowball wasn’t there. He felt very sad. While he slept, he dreamed that the sun had melted all the snow away.” And I suppose that must be what many children feel like awakening to the truth of Santa.
But as I told my daughter, it’s always worth believing wonderful, magical, beautiful things. As Alice from Wonderland says, it’s a a good practice to believe in as many as six impossible things a day! And, fortunately for Peter, when he woke up from his dream… “The snow as still everywhere. New snow was falling!”
Today my daughter is still a believer—she believes in justice and kindness. She believes that good will always prevail over evil. She believes that the fellowship of friendship is of the highest order and that honesty and loyalty are worth their weighty and troubled cumbersomeness. She believes in laughing even after a moment before declaring “My life sucks!” She believes that everyone deserves to give and to receive the gift of love. And, if that’s not a healthy belief system honed from years and years of believing in reindeer that fly, then I don’t know what is.
Oh yes, I do know. She believes in a God who still hovers over the bleakest, most abysmal corners of our hearts, minds and souls, and speaks, “Let there be the light of life,” and life illuminates, and it’s so beautiful, so very good.
THREE CHRISTMAS CREAM AND SUGAR PLAYLISTS:
1
I’ve always wanted to have a boy like Peter from the book The Snowy Day. But instead a got a girl who was just as endearing with her desire to explore the unknown and leave her tracks in the snow. Here’s a playlist for your kiddos, and an ode to Peter: Christmas Cream & Sugar, Peter’s Playlist.
2
Here’s a playlist for the advent season. May it bless you as you pray, reflect, wrap gifts, bake cookies, go to Target, go to the grocery store—a little joy and peace for you: Christmas Cream & Sugar, Advent.
3
There are way too many Christmas songs in the world, and I know this because my husband and I have started collecting Christmas albums on vinyl and random downloads. Here’s a playlist that’s perfect for cocktail parties, game nights, raucous and funky fun: Christmas Cream & Sugar, For Grown Folks Who Still Believe in Santa
A GIFT FROM MOCKINGBIRD HISTORY LESSONS:
Some of you might not be aware that I have a Patreon account. Patreon is a way for creators to make things,
and for people to support that work financially as patrons. My Patreon account is called Mockingbird History Lessons for Adults. My goal with this project is to eventually launch a history curriculum for children that will include videos, books and games that will explore the humanity within our history. Anyone can become a patron for as little as $1/month. If you’re not already a patron, please think about becoming one. In the meantime, enjoy Mockingbird’s Holiday Newsletter, full of funny, quirky, and poignant Christmas stories, videos, podcasts, etc… (plus bonus! There are some other free lessons for you to explore): Mockingbird History Lessons: Christmas Newsletter
