Page 6 - Publishing Inspiration Christmas Card 2022

Santa Claus
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I’ve only seen a few people playing Santa this year, and they
were paid. I like to do it for the enjoyment, and being paid
diminishes that for me. So, when my daughter asked me to play
Santa for her children, then later asked instead for her entire
community, I agreed.
Most people at the community dinner didn’t think Santa was
coming and seemed disappointed. So they seemed happy when they
learned the news. “I have a shy little five-year-old daughter,” a lady
said. “She would love to see Santa, but not having had the chance
for almost two years, I think she will be too scared.”
The shy little girl came and nervously asked for music from
the movie Frozen. When I asked which one, she said both. “But
could you make it easy piano music because I’m just learning to
play?” We then talked about playing piano, and with a nod from her
mother, I told her to look for the music on Christmas.
There were the normal rambunctious teenagers, and then
there were some, as always, that touched my heart. A rebelliously
dressed teenaged boy said he just wanted his dad to come home.
And at the end of the line, waiting patiently and quietly until
everyone else was done, was a little boy about six years old.
Through the evening, I had just pulled the children close to stand by
me, afraid the parents would be concerned about them sitting on my
lap because of Covid. But he asked specifically if he could sit on my
lap and give me a hug. I looked at his mother for permission, and
she nodded.
I pulled him onto my lap, and after a big hug, asked him what
he wanted for Christmas. He said, “All I want for Christmas is for
my parents to get back together so we can be a family again.”
My heart melted. I told him I was sure they loved him, but
sometimes adults don’t agree on things. Then I said, “But there is
one other thing I want you to always remember when things get hard.
I want you to know I love you.”
His mother cried, and the boy hugged me again before
smiling and taking his candy cane. I turned and looked at the line. It

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