Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Our House to Yours

A few days before Christmas, I sat down with Eric to help him write a letter to Santa. He found a clean piece of paper and selected a narrow red marker. Then he began to scrawl “Dear Santa” at the top of the page. After a few pleasantries about being a good boy, Eric got down to business and made his Christmas requests. His list included the normal first grade boy items – a skate board, drums, Pokemon cards and a guitar. But one item in particular stood out. Eric asked Santa for a twenty dollar bill. And in his seven year old heart Eric had complete faith that Santa would deliver.

Now truth be told, Eric did pretty well on Christmas morning. Though he didn’t get everything on his list (Mom nixed the drums which Santa explained in a note to Eric), most of his wishes were granted – including a crisp twenty dollar bill that Santa left hanging out of Eric's stocking. Eric was elated.

I hesitate to tell this story because I know some might see it as yet another example of how Christmas has become over commercialized or that today’s youth are selfish lot. But I know this kid. His heart is more pure than Galahad. So I suspect the real meaning goes deeper and is much more subtle. And I believe I have found it.

The meaning of this story can be summed up in one word: Faith.

Because that is what Eric’s seven year old heart is filled with. He believes in God. He has faith that Mom and Dad love him. And he knows without question that Santa will slide down the chimney Christmas morning, that he will eat the cookies and drink the milk, and that if a small boy who has been good makes a reasonable wish, Santa will make it come true. And everything happened just as Eric expected because he believed it would.

I know what you are thinking, “It’s easy to believe in magic when you are seven, especially when Santa knows that Dad has a twenty dollar bill in his wallet. But things are different when you are all grown up.” I disagree.

The difference between child magic and grown up magic is that grownups have forgotten that magic only happens if we help it along. If you caught the animated version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (circa 1972) involving a mouse named Albert, you may understand. In the story, Albert and his father help create a Christmas miracle when Santa almost bypasses the tiny town of Junctionville. As Albert and his dad work on their miracle, they sing the song “Even A Miracle Needs a Hand.” The lyrics go like this:

Miracles happen most every day
to people like you and me
but don’t expect a miracle
unless you help make it to be

You hope while I hurry
You pray while I plan
We’ll do what’s necessary cause
Even a miracle needs a hand

You love and I’ll labor
You sit while I stand
Get help from a next door neighbor cause
Even a miracle needs a hand

So let's get back to Eric. It’s not like Eric made a wish and then sat back and waited for the magic to happen. He had to work for it. First, he had to be good. Bear in mind, he's a seven year old boy. Asking him to “be good” is like asking the rain not to fall. Then he had to do something nice for someone else. So he left milk and cookies for Santa and oats and carrots for the reindeer. Then he had to ask for what he wanted. Hence the letter and the list. Finally, he had to believe that his wish would come true. He had to have faith. And he did. And with all of those ingredients mixed together, the magic happened.

If a seven year old boy can help make magic happen, so can you. You just need to know the secret formula. And it’s simply this:

1. Be good.
2. Be nice to others.
3. Ask.
4. Believe.

If you think I am making all of this up, think again. Check out the Bible. The same formula can be found there.

1. Be good. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
2. Be nice to others. “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” 1 Timothy 6:18
3. Ask. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-12
4. Believe. “And Jesus said unto them ...’If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.’” Romans 1:17

Yep, it’s in there. Eric knows the secret to magic and now you do too. And it’s a real, grown up kind of thing.

So, next Christmas if I hear Santa is giving out twenty dollar bills again, I’ll let you know so you can be good, leave some cookies, write a letter and have a little faith. Or you can just try it out all year and see how it works out for you. In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our house to yours.