I had never played up the whole Santa thing because I wanted my children to know the real meaning of Christmas. When my only son was in kindergarten he came home one day and asked me if Santa was real. I didn't want to lie to him so I told him that Santa was a pretend game that parents played with their children and it was based on a real person who lived long ago who gave presents to poor children. I told him not to tell his classmates that Santa wasn't real because that was part of the game. I asked him if he wanted to play the game and his only concern then was if he would get gifts if he didn't want to play the game and I reassured him he would.

A few years later, I had heard of a family with many children living in a one room shack down the road. I wanted to do something for them and wanted to involve my children thinking I would 'teach them' something special about the true meaning of Christmas. My three children were all small. My eldest and only son was probably eight, maybe. My idea was to go to the dollar store and buy gifts for the children and put together a box of non perishables and fresh fruit. I wanted my children to help me pick out the toys. We didn't have a lot ourselves but we had much more than this family. All our gifts were already out under the tree.

My kids were very excited about what we were going to do. Then my son looks up at me and asks me if they can give the children some of their own presents. It only took me a moment to think about this and agree. This is when my children taught me something special about the true meaning of Christmas. They dove under the tree with all the excitement of kids on Christmas morning searching the wrapped boxes for their name. But they weren't looking for the smallest things, oh no! they were looking at their biggest best gifts to give away.

Even today this brings tears to my eyes when I remember that my children were willing to give their very best for someone else. Is it any wonder that God has such a special place in His heart for children. Or that He instructs us to be like little children. God gave the best gift of all, a child, the Savior of the world, who would grow up and after a three year ministry sacrifice His own life on a cross to buy our salvation and secure our privilege of being able to have a relationship with Him.

At this time of year I beg each of you to remember what Christmas is really all about. And if you haven't opened your heart to receive the greatest Gift ever given, Jesus, please open your heart to Him now.