Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.
I originally wrote the following as a vigil for Street Prophets. Much has happened to me since I initially wrote this. One thing that has not changed is the fact that I still believe in Santa.
I was the last one of my age group to "know" about Santa. I believed until sixth grade, and I still believe.
When I was 5 years old (year: 1966), my mom and dad moved us to York County, PA. Dad had finished 6 years of service in the Air Force at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. He was all of 25 with a wife (also 25), 2 young daughters, and the need to provide for us. We moved to York County, because my grandfather (Mom’s dad) had accepted a post as a pastor of a charge of 3 United Methodist churches in southern York County. We moved about five miles away from Grandma and Granddad’s parsonage home. Dad worked full time as a fork-lift operator. Mom worked full time taking care of my sister and me. Both my parents took a full caseload of classes at Millersville College (now University). We rented a very small inexpensive home in a very tiny town, and we never had a lot of money.
This is all background to tell you about the day Santa came to our house.
It was 5 days before Christmas, and we were visiting my grandparents. The snow began to fall, so Dad went out, put chains on the tires, and drove us slowly back home. Dad still had an evening shift at the factory, so he dropped us off and carefully drove to work. Mom tells me now that she was feeling very sad and alone that evening. She and Dad had not had money to buy any gifts, and they were trying desperately to figure out how Santa would come to visit my sister and me. Mom relates that they didn’t even have enough money to buy oranges for our stockings—a family tradition for us is putting an orange in our stocking.
About 7:00 PM, there was a knock on the door. Mom answered and in walked Santa! My eyes opened as wide as they could. My sister and I ran to give Santa a hug. This kind soul brought coloring books, crayons, oranges, apples, a candy cane for each of us, and 2 small dolls. He told us he knew we had been good girls and that he was getting ready to visit us on Christmas Eve. He "Ho, ho, ho-ed" and gave us each another hug, and then left the house. Even to my little girl eyes, Mom seemed just as surprised as we did by Santa’s visit. Mom tucked in two very excited little girls that night.
In my early twenties, Mom told me the rest of the story. Dad came home later that evening with an unexpected bonus check-just enough to buy a kitchen set for two little girls. My sister and I played with that set for years. The next day, Mom asked our neighbor what her son thought when Santa came to visit him. She looked at Mom as if she had 2 heads-"Santa?" No one had been to their home. Mom and her friend asked around. No one else in our tiny town had received a visit from Santa. My grandparents checked with the people at their 3 churches. No one owned up to a visit to our little home.
There had been a lot of snow on the roads, so there had to have been someone who cared very much for a very needy family to have driven in the snow to brighten our spirits. To this day, we do not know who visited us. Thus, I conclude: Santa came to my house-just when we needed him.
Each Christmas is a time I renew my commitment to care for others. To offer someone a bit of hope in a world that can be dark and lonely. As we wait for a Winter Solstice, a birth of a baby, a time of light in darkness; let us remember the light we can be to others. Envision sharing your inner light with those around you, and then do it. Positive change can begin with the light of one person sharing with another. Share peace, share love. Santa still lives. I will always believe.
I will add an additional thought for this year. We have seen many Santas these past couple of weeks. Santas that have been thoughtful enough to give lifetime subscriptions for people here. I was honored and very grateful to receive a subscription from an anonymous donor. Just more proof, to me, that Santa still lives.