Christmas and St. Nick

I find it amazing how much Hannah believes in Santa. For the longest time, even last year, we stood firm to the fact that Santa does not come to our home. We have told her time and again the story of St. Nicholas, the gracious benefactor that saved two sisters from poverty, but alas, the commercials and movies have won out. She is a believer. Even when I ask her questions to discredit the reality of Santa she has an answer waiting for me. Or she just stops talking conveying the message that I am a lost cause.

But it does make we wonder if this man who supposedly did exist and gave with such a generous heart would appreciate what has become of his legacy. And then I wonder about what my legacy will be. You see there is someone that I am striving to incorporate into my life. His name is Jesus. He was born almost two thousand years ago and he has the best legacy that I've ever encountered. He loved those that made his life miserable, he wasn't afraid of germs, he always had enough to share, and he never shied away from difficult conversations.

I think about how he was able to do all that, even with the struggles that come from being human, the teasing and taunting of childhood, the expectations of family and friends, the awkward bits of puberty, that first step into a world that needed what he has to offer, but not know if they would see it that way or not.

It's pretty amazing, that Jesus would choose to come down and love on us the way he did, with all the pitfalls and traps that come with being human, all the emotions and irrational thoughts. But he over came them all and continued to point to God the entire time. Reminding himself over and over again of the love of the Father and that its need in this world was far greater than any fear or hesitation or pain that may be experienced here on Earth. The need we have for God is far greater than any trial we can face here on earth even the trial of death, because He has conquered death and shown us that even though it feels like the end, it is actually as great of a birth as the one that Jesus blessed us with all those years ago.

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