We are taught as children that when the holiday season rolls around that we need to sit down and write a list of the gifts that we want from Santa Clause. In lieu of writing that list, we can make a trip to the nearest mall and wait in line for our opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him directly those items that we absolutely, positively have to have from him on Christmas. We dream about each and everyone of them and when/if we do not receive exactly what we requested, we are sad, disappointed and feel left down and it spoils our whole holiday and diminishes the importance and value of those things that we do receive.
I don’t remember my parents ever having us write a letter to Santa and I am grateful that I was never made to visit Santa in person. We gratefully received whatever gifts Santa had chosen especially for us and were happy with the fruit and nuts and candy canes that accompanied the small personal items that filled each of our stockings. Santa always brought us each one toy and one item of clothing and we were always pleased that he remembered us and made a special effort to deliver those items on Christmas Eve when he was so busy trying to reach every child in the whole world.
But, most of all, the true spirit of Christmas will be shared and that is that this is the season of giving and the packages or the gifts don’t really matter when we give of ourselves in the best way we know how. What more could you ever ask for?Barbara Jacoby
I suppose that is the reason that when asked each year what I want for Christmas, I don’t know what to say. So my husband, Kirk, is always left to figure out what would be the perfect presents for me just like Santa used to do. Therefore, it was a complete surprise, as an example, the year when I got home from work to find a brand-new Let Life Happen website. What a wonderful surprise! He was able to construct it without it being visible until he was ready to take it live and then he was ready to make any adjustments that would make things easier for me to use it.
There are no words to explain how happy I was with my early Christmas present. I know that I would never have thought to put this on my Christmas list. I would never even have thought of it in a million years. But, Santa knew exactly what I would like because he knows my heart and my Santa cares enough to always find something for me that excites and delights me more than anything that I could ever put on a list.
So I am going to suggest that everyone stop making requests for what they want for Christmas. This allows for Santa to choose something special for you that comes from knowing your heart. You are giving Santa the chance to give you something that he thinks you would really like. It doesn’t really matter what it is since Santa has taken the time and made the effort to select something specifically for you. There should be no unfulfilled expectations since you didn’t request anything in particular so anything that you receive is special. It will be a surprise that is part of the fun that the child in us should experience on Christmas morning. But, most of all, the true spirit of Christmas will be shared and that is that this is the season of giving and the packages or the gifts don’t really matter when we give of ourselves in the best way we know how. What more could you ever ask for?
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.