Hello my dears,
Last Friday I sat down to write you an article about Santa Claus. I was going go into share with you some family memories and give you my own take “The Santa Controversy”. There are parents who feel that lying to their children include the tale of Santa , and so they refuse to do so. There are parents who have warm feelings of the Santa tale and gladly share it with their young ones. I fall into the latter category.
My article was going to explore ways that parents who want to share the Santa myth with their children could do so in a more conscious way, because one of the main reason I read that parents don’t want to teach their young ones about Santa s because they themselves felt lied to, and this sense of being deceived ruined Christmas for them and even worse impacted their ability to trust their parents!
What a shame! And so unnecessary! Myths are healing stories, passed on to us through time, to educate, comfort, and support us through our journeys in the path of our humanity. To help us define our humanity and to ask critical questions as we define and re define ourselves as we grow from child to adult to elder… They ought not to injure us…
As I said, I was going to write about all that, and then I heard the special report on the news that in Sandy Hook School in Connecticut it was feared that many children had been the victims of an armed man who had invaded the school and began a rampage of killing.
I sat at my desk and felt myself die a bit myself – and though I didn’t wish to feed the monster of main steam media – I began to listen to the reports that were coming in. I prayed. My grandchild, who is 12 years old prayed with me. She sat beside me, her sweet new pre teen face somber and worried for the families whose little children were dead. “It’s so sad nana, so sad that people do these things.”
“ Yes, mi amore, it’s terribly sad…”
“That man must have so much pain in his heart – so much pain.”
“Yes, indeed he must.”
The next day we learned that 20 children had died – twenty little 6 and 7 year old boys and girls.
Jazmine and I held hands, we lit 20 little tea lights – one for each child and we ask the God we love to be with those little children, the brave teachers who tried to protect them, we prayed for the killer, and his mother.
After we’d done this Jazmine turned to me as said, “Nana, thank goodness those kids believed in Santa Claus.” I looked at her; felt slightly confused, but then said, “Well, I believe that some of the children were Jewish, mi amor.”
She replied undaunted, Well, then they just had Chanukah! Good for them!” she had a large smile on her face!
I asked her to explain what she she meant and she replied – well knowing these things makes us happy inside, they make of think of our family and friends and God. The little Jewish kids just had celebrations and gifts, and the Christian kids were looking forward to Santa coming – because they were so little, 6 and 7, you know that age kid believes in Santa – a lot.”
“And big kids, do they believe in Santa a lot?”
Well, I can’t speak for ALL big kids, she said with a smile – “but I still do, not the same way I did then though, now I know that you and mommy and daddy get me gifts for me, and I get stuff for you guys too – it’s nice… but I liked that it felt magical when I was little-er… Now I know the magic is about family and love, and God because I am more mature, now…”
Yes, my little grandchild, you are more mature now. And I believe she said it better than I could have. She expressed my belief that some of our myths, especially the one geared towards children (once they are freed from the contamination of consumerism) have been passed down to be just as she described. These tales are designed to comfort young souls from the harsh realities of life. This world can often be a harsh and scary place, and little souls who are still so fresh from heaven themselves, need help in stepping in to it – that one of the reason human children, being such complicated beings require such a long time of hands on parenting compared to other mammals.
Stories like Santa and the Easter bunny contain strong seasonal messages of love hope selfless giving and joy! Santa is remembered and loved as a Catholic Saint, he was a real man – who is the Patron saint of children, a patron Saint is a protector saint, one who looks over guides, protects, and loves!
These stories, these sainted people and our faith traditions (free from fundamentalism) help us to manage how are life can be. They steer us towards both inner and outer peace. Help us to draw near to the God of our understanding in an age appropriate way and they walk with us as our brains and psyche grow , with the hope that as adults we can walk in wisdom and free from fear.
I agree with my grandchild. I hope that the Children on that day, had happy thoughts in their little heads – that before the danger feel upon them, they had thought of holidays, friends and family, great anticipation of Santa’s visit. Anything. Anything to strengthen them for what lay ahead.
And the very least, but not the last, I hope that each little one had the memory of a loving kiss from a mom or dad as they said good bye that morning. I pray that they all felt loved.
So my dear, please enjoy your holidays, however you celebrate them. Please give thanks for a brand new year. A new year with a whole new opportunity to truly elevate our thinking, and our connection to others. And know that if we want true safety, that it’s an inside job – starts with us, but can heal the whole entire.
Let’s begin.
