Teach the Children

	Just last Christmas Eve I had a strange visitor.  This is how it happened:
	I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in front of the house.  I opened the door of the front room, and to my surprise, I saw Santa Clause himself stepping out from behind the Christmas tree.  He placed his fingers over his lips, so I would not cry out.
	"What are you doing here...?”  I started to ask, but the words chocked up in my throat as I saw he had tears in his eyes.  His usual jolly manner was gone... Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know.  As I stood there puzzled and bewildered, Santa said, "We've done it all wrong, you need to teach the children."
	I was still puzzled; what did he mean?  He guessed my question, and with one quick movement pulled a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.
	My perplexed expression still showed in the darkness.  Santa said again, "Teach the Children.  Teach them the old meaning of Christmas---the meaning that Christmas nowadays has forgotten."   
	Fumbling in his sack he drew forth a bright shining gold STAR.  "Teach the Children, that the star was a heavenly sign of a promise long ago.  God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His Promise.  The countless shining stars at night--one for each man-now show the burning hope of all mankind."  3 Nephi 1:21
	Santa gently laid the star upon the fireplace mantle and drew forth from the bag a glittering RED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT.  "Teach the Children, red is the first color of Christmas.  It was first used by the faithful people to remind them of the blood which was shed for all people by the Savior.  Jesus Christ gave His life and shed His blood that every man might have God's gift to all, eternal life.  Red is deep, intense, vivid.  It is the greatest color of all.  It is the symbol of the gift of God."
	He then pulled from his bag a HOLLY LEAF.  “Teach the Children that the holly plant represents immortality.  It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior.  The red holly also represents the blood shed by Him."     
	As Santa was twisting and pulling another object out of his bag, I heard the clock begin to strike 12.  I wanted to say something but he went right on.
	"Teach the Children" he said as the twisting and pulling suddenly dislodged a SMALL CHRISTMAS TREE from the depths of the tiny bag.  He placed it before the mantle and gently hung the red ornament on the tree and star on top of the tree.  The deep green of the fir tree was a perfect background for the ornament.
	Here was the second color of Christmas.  "The pure color of the stately fir tree remains green all year around."  He said “This depicts the everlasting hope of mankind, and the everlasting live we can only get through His Son.  Green is the youthful, hopeful, abundant color of nature.  All the needles point heavenward--symbolic of the other tree, the one that became a cross.  The great, green tree has been one of man's best friends.  It has sheltered him, warmed him, made beauty for him, and formed his furniture."
	Santa's eyes were beginning to twinkle now as he stood there.  Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound.  As it grew louder, it seemed like the sound of long ago.
	"Teach the Children, that as the lost sheep are found by sounds of the BELL, so should it ring for man to return to the fold; it means guidance and return to God; it further signifies that all are precious in the eye of the Lord.  He left the 99 and went in search of the 1."  As the soft sound of the bell faded into the night Santa drew forth a candle.  He placed it on the mantle and the soft glow from its tiny light cast an eerie glow about the darkened room.  Odd shapes in the shadow slowly dances and weaved upon the walls.  Mosiah 26:21
	"Teach the Children" whispered Santa, "that the CANDLE shows man's thanks for the star of long ago.  It signifies the light that shines within all God's people.  It symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of Jesus who fills our lives with light.   A light that should never be hidden.  Its flame seems very weak, but it chases away the darkness, just as the stars do.  Its small light is the mirror of starlight.  At first candles were placed on the Christmas tree--they were like many glowing stars shining against the dark green.  Safety now has moved the candles from the tree and the colored lights have taken over in remembrance."
	Santa turned the small Christmas tree on and picked up a GIFT from under the tree.  "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that HE gave us HIS only Son...  We thank God for his very special gift.  The wise men bowed before the Holy Baby and gave HIM gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.   We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."   John 3:16
	He pointed to the low BOW ribbon and said.  "Teach the Children."  A bow is placed on a present to remind us of the spirit of the brotherhood of man.  We should remember that the bow is tied as man should be tied-- all of us together-- with the bonds of goodwill and love toward each other.  Goodwill forever is the message of the bow."   Matthew 2:11      Roman 12:10
	He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF.  "Teach the Children I Santa Clause symbolizes the generosity and kindness we feel during the month of December.  And should carry it all year long."
	He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.  “Teach the Children that it was the angels that announced the glorious news of the Savior's birth.  The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
	Santa then paused.  He seemed to realize that he should be on his way.  Later would be his big day.  As he looked about the room, a feeling of satisfaction and relief showed in his face.  He reached back in his bag and brought forth a large wreath.  He placed it on the fireplace and said.  "Please, teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of God's love; it never ceases, stops or ends.  It is one continuous round of affection.  The wreath does double duty.  It is made of many things and in many colors.  It reminds us all of the things of Christmas.  Please teach the children."     Maroni 8:17
	Now I wondered what else Santa had in his bad.  Instead of reaching in the bag, he slung it over his shoulder and began to reach up in the Christmas tree.  I thought he was hungry as he reached for a CANDY CANE, purposely placed high on the tree.  He unfastened it and reached out toward me with it.  Isaiah 40:11
	"Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherds crook.  The crook on the staff helps bring back the strayed sheep to the fold.  The candy cane represents the helping hand we should show at Christmas time and all year long.  The candy is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.  The red represents the Blood of Salvation, and the white the Purity that only comes from it's cleansing flow."
	As Santa looked around the room, he noticed one thing missing.  He reached into his velvet pocket and brought forth a tiny NATIVITY SCENE and placed it on the mantle.  His gloved finger stroked the small babe lying in a manger as a tear tickled down his rosy check.  No longer a tear of sadness, but a tear of joy for the love he had for the Christ child whose birthday he helps the world to celebrate.  He turned to me and said, "Teach the Children.  Teach everyone to never forget the true meaning of Christmas!  And do not put me in the center for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our God."
	As I gazed at the mantle, he slipped away, his job done...  pointing people back to the real meaning behind the celebration. 
	I pondered and wondered and thrilled with delight.  As I saw and viewed all those symbols that night.  I dozed as I sat in the soft candle light, and my thoughts were of Jesus and all He made right.  To give and to help, to love and to serve, are the best things of life, all men can deserve?  Old Santa Clause that jolly fat little elf.  Is not the best symbol of Christmas itself?  Jesus gave us the gift of love and of life, the ending of evil, the seasoning of strife.  Santa's message to me on the pre-Christmas night has opened a treasure of deepest insight.
	The one thing on earth we all ought to do, is to teach the children the right and the true.
 
By Salli Noack
Dec 2, 2009