St. Nick

Over the years, it seems as though people forget the true meaning of Christmas. I wonder sometimes if people know the background as to why they are giving and receiving gifts or if they are just doing it because that’s what they feel they are supposed to do.
It all goes back to many years ago when a man gave everything of himself to others.
He lost his parents at a very young age, but not before he was old enough for them to help him discover the gift of faith. Little Nicholas went to Myra, Turkey and lived a life full of self-offering and giving of himself.
His life was full of sacrifice and love.  In fact, Nicholas lived such a Christ-like life that when the town needed a bishop he elected without a single question.
Afterwards many stories of Nicholas’ generosity were collected and they spread from mouth to mouth all throughout the lands. It was told how he begged for food for the poor and how he would somehow get money for young women to use as a dowry so that they could have husbands. But the story most often repeated was about how he would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to poor children.
It was said that Nicholas gave away everything he had and everything he could get.
Over the years people have changed the looks of Saint Nick, who is now depicted as Santa Claus. What is important is that he lived in the mindset and lifestyle of Christ and because he lived that lifestyle the life of Nicholas touched the whole world and does to this very day.
But here’s the really important part of the story: that same Christ-like mindset and lifestyle that Nicholas lived is supposed to be in all of us and lived by all of us.