Christmas is a feeling in my heart.
I go back to the smell of new linoleum at Christmas. You?
My parents couldn’t afford presents: this I knew for a fact. That’s why I believed in Santa.
Do you really know where the real spirit of Christmas and Santa Claus lives? What, wait! You’re sure Santa Claus is a lie. Sheesh, then I have news for you.
This is the story about my late coming-of-age when the magic of Christmas grew tenfold in my heart the year I turned eleven. And to this day, that magic is preserved intact.
Christmas is NOT about Santa and presents. It’s something far more important than that, and I hope that’s the feeling you take away from this story. Please enjoy.
As a child, I grew up with the bare minimums,
but on Christmas morning my siblings and I
received presents I knew
my parents could not afford.
A Story of Giving
As promised, the girl awoke at the crack of dawn and quietly slid out of the room she shared with her sisters. Guided by the light framing the half-opened door of her parent’s bedroom, she edged closer and peeked in.
Mom and Dad, sitting amid presents and Christmas paper, looked up and nodded.
“Lock the door,” said her father, fanning his hand excitedly, waving her in, welcoming her into the conspiration.
As she turned to the door, Mother’s whispered words echoed in her mind: You’re eleven now, and you deserve to know the truth about Santa. She locked the door and drew closer to them.
Averting her eyes from their proud, gentle gazes, she looked at the tags; one showed her name, and she gasped.
“Just to keep up appearances,” offered Mother. “You know, for the younger ones’ sake.”
The girl nodded understanding and watched her parents whisper and work fast, so fast like the little elves in the story of The Elves and the Shoemaker.
She smiled as she transferred one present after another to place under the tree, but at the last one– hers, her parents tiptoed out with her.
This time she smiled through tears at seeing six wrapped presents under the tree, and the warmth in her chest swelled her heart with love and respect for the two people who’d showed her something about the meaning of giving.
Never in a million years would she have believed that her own parents took part in such covert affairs just to make her and her younger brothers and sisters believe in something that made every Christmas magical.
***
© 2021 selmamartin.com
“Dear Children, now that you are older, I will tell you a secret.
No matter what anyone says, Santa Claus is not your parents.
He is the parent we wish we were,
Riding high and free above your head,
Pulled by enchanted reindeer and bringing you presents
that could never be less than perfect.
I believe in Santa, oh, yes, I believe.” ~ JOAN GOULD
THAT NIGHT, what I learned in my parents’ bedroom swelled my heart with hope, love, and respect. That is why I still believe in Santa and the Magic of Christmas.
I received my first LP Record player that Christmas: a red one.
Photo: Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
Thanks for reading.
I hope the month continues stress-free, full of gratitude and giving,
and merriment.
To you who celebrate the birth of Christ,
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
To you who celebrate differently,
Happy/Super/Joyous December Celebrations for
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice,
and the new secular HumanLight.
And miracles too.
*
Dear friends, blogger friends, and pen-pals thank you. You’ve made
my blogging year complete, and I cannot thank you enough.
Your comments and encouragement are the highlights of every post.
I bless you.
After this post, I’ll be taking a short break from posting until January 6th: The
Feast of The Three Wise Men.
*
Please bask in the beauty of the season and don’t let the injustice that exists
in the darkness of the world consume your inner light. Try to still find something to be grateful for. Let your light shine bright ‘for others.’
Just don’t look for Christmas in the clamor and display of superficial eventfulness,
especially if your heart is heavy with one or many irreplaceable losses.
Instead look for Christmas in the deep clarity of inner vision, which will point you to
quiet in silence. Then in that silence, recall humble holiday traditions which should get
you to relive & sense your dearly departed.
Think of how they celebrated Christmas and for the time being, imitate. Imitate them
until the act becomes you. This way, you bring Christmases past into your current
Christmas. (or any celebration you embrace.)
I’d like you to approach this Christmas emptied of impositions to be cheerful. But for that, you’ll need to accept what you cannot change and thus lighten the load in your heart. Nothing will be forced then.
Let’s all sit still and just listen.
From me, Selma Martin, and loved ones,
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
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Such a beautiful post. Thank you. ❤️🙏💚
Thanks Jennifer. I appreciate you reading. Hope there’s magic in the air where you are right now. Enjoy your festivities 🥳 🎄 💕
Dear Selma, thanks for sharing and reminding me, again, where true joy resides…not I. Things or accompments, but peace, joy, and the people we love. Merry Christmas and miracles to you.
The iPad chose its own spelling. Oh well.
Kathryn my sweet. Thanks for appreciating this post and I’m so glad to bring you the reminder 😉 😃
Merry 🎄 Christmas, dear Kathryn. It’s Christmas 🤗
I understand about the spell check. It gets a mind if it’s own. 😛 no worries.
Dear Selma, This is a beautiful story. I’m saving it for years to come. My Granddaughter will enjoy it after she learns her parents are Santa. This message gave me a warm feeling as I remembered past Christmas’s and the love of my Mom and Dad. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you. And Thank you.
Merry Christmas, Diane. Such warm words that touch me deeply. Thanks for appreciating. I bless you. May light and joy and peace prevail. Merry Christmas 🎄 👼 🌟
I appreciate this truly magical post my dear👏👏👏
Aww. Thanks for the lovely visit and warm words. Pleasure is mine, dear one. You made me smile. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays. I bless you. 🎄
May the magic of sharing magic and giving from the heart extend throughout the year.
Cheer to you and yours.
Jules, I’m glad you agree that magic is shareable when it comes from the heart. A little bit can go a long way. Thanks for the comment. Blessings on your celebrations, dear friend. And let’s continue sharing magic where we can. Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year. xo
Good tidings and cheer!!
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you read, Tricia. And more prosperity to you in the new year. Blessings. xo
💓
Absolutely beautiful post – thank you so much for sharing it. And you’re closing – the way you’ve so graciously and gratefully expressed yourself, is truly lovely – a real blessing and shining light, not only because it’s a message about the holiday season, but simply because you speak/write from the heart, one filled with generosity, love, gratitude, light, awe, wonder, humility and delight. As you would say to me, so I offer back to you – I wish you (continued) miracles.
So glad that you read this one that, really, came straight from my heart. Shared the magic to bring magic to those who need it. All the best for the new year, almost here.xo
A very heartfelt and beautiful post, just when I needed it most. Merry Christmas!
Dear friend, my efforts paid off then because I posted it just for you who needed it most. May the magic continue. May your celebrations be safe and memorable. I bless you. Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year… xo
Selma,
Such loving memories overflowing the constraints of words and you make me tear up at the blessings of love we share at Christmas, its true magic. Have a blessed and radiant Christmas season!
Pax,
Dora
I think it’s lovely that Christmas comes at the end of the year. It’s just the kind of unity the world needs at year’s end. I speak of Christmas as that is what I celebrate in my heart, but any celebration that brings the world together somehow is spectacular/magical in and of itself. In between now and The Feast of the Epiphany, we celebrate the arrival of the new year, so I continue to wish you a Merry Christmas into the new year. I bless you, Dora. Thanks for the support, dear friend. Happy New year.
May God bless and keep you, Selma. We will rejoice in the Incarnate God as we approach Epiphany and worship Him even as we bless one another with the blessings we have been given. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ♥️🎄
Wonderful memory, have a great Christmas and a lovely break 😁
Wishing you serenity in this celebratory season. I appreciate your support, Deb. So glad to connect with you this year. Happy New Year.
Same to you Selma, your blog has brought me much joy this year
Heart touching and beautiful post dear Selma 💕🤗🌲☃️
Gratitude, my friend. So happy your read this one. I bless you. xoxo
My pleasure dear 😘 Thanks for blessings. God bless you too ❣️ xoxo
Merry Christmas, dear Selma, and enjoy your break! This is a beautiful story. 🙂
Thanks for the lovely words that bless me. I bless you too. Happy travels *wink* and all the best in the new year. xoxo
That’s so beautiful Selma!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and enjoy your break. Happy new year, and I hope 2022 brings you great joy.
Kate
Thanks? Kate. I sure did. And I wish you the same. Now and into the New Year. 👏 🎄
Beautiful post, Selma! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas. Here’s wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year! 🎄🌟🕊
You’re sweet. Thanks, the whole season has been fantastic. I wish same for you. And more into the new year. 👏 🎄 💕
Such a sweet and beautiful one Selma, thank you for sharing your memories with us. 💖
Thrilled you read, Daphny, and glad you could appreciate the message in the old memory. Stay safe, my sweet. May the celebration be a good reminder of how much magic is around every day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. xoxo
Happy new year to as well dear Selma, sorry I couldn’t be very active this days. 😊❤️
No worries. It’s the same for me. Sending you serene graces. xoxo
Hopping to catch up with all your post soon. 🤗💖
xoxoxo 👼
A sweet and heartwarming story, Selma. 💝 Thank you for sharing this story of hope and the magic of the season, that lives in you.
Aww, Michele Lee, dear. Thanks for appreciating the story that’s dear to me. May we always pay attention to the miracles and magic all around us. I bless you. Happy New Year, and yes, Merry Christmas to you and those you love. xo
beautiful share from your heart Selma!💖💖
Glad you appreciated that, Cindy. Thanks so much for the visit and comment. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. I wish you miracles. xo
I sure did Selma!!! Thanks my friend and to you!
💖
Such a magic post. Heart touching story post. Lovely words use in poetry. I wish you stay safe, healthy & wealthy New year. Good bless you..Iam so glad.✍️🌲🌷🙏
Hey, Raj, so glad you appreciated the magic in the post. Thanks for the sweet wish. I’m so pleased to receive this. Thank you, my friend. May God bless you abundantly. See you in the New Year. Blessings to you and your family. Stay sweet. xoxo, Selma.
Thank you so much my friend. .I always stay sweet with!🌷raj
What an endearing, heartwarming tale this is! The fact that your parents would go out of their way to do this for you and your siblings is so wholesome. Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? Making ours feel loved and appreciated. Delightful. I hope you had a fabulous, magical Christmas this year as well.
Yes, Sam, my parents instilled that lovely feeling in me on that night way back then. I relive it now every year. This is what Christmas IS. A feeling that lingers years and decades after. What a joy! So glad you made time to read this one. I bless you. I hope your year end celebrations were also spectacular. I have yet to hear/read about them. I will the moment I can. I wish you miracles.