This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
Today I’d like to share with you the reason that I keep believing.
Christmas has a special meaning for many people, either because of the religious side of it or because it’s a time to share the innocent feeling of believing in something bigger (or perhaps even magical) with family and the people around us.
Whatever the case, I love the feeling I perceive around this time of year. To me, it feels like most people slow down for few days and let the good inside of them be dominant for a little while. I know this statement makes it sound like I’m saying we’re all our bad selves for the rest of the year, but what I mean is that Christmas makes me see more clearly the beauty of good intentions and the natural human condition of giving. By the first week of December, families are usually getting prepared: decorations are up and running, the number of presents around the Christmas trees increases, special food is prepared, and people look a little happier.
But what I like the most about Christmas is the feeling of believing. I absolutely love seeing my nephews all excited, making long lists of toys they’d like to get. I love seeing their innocent, beautiful way of believing in something magical. I’m not sure why we stop sending letters to Santa. Well, I know why, but I don’t understand why we stop using that beautiful method of writing a letter to ask for the things we dream of receiving. I believe that the people who believe in God like I do kind of replace writing letters to Santa with saying prayers to God. I hope it’s not too late, but I’m going to write a letter this year, and I’ll let you all know what I get later.
I remember when I found out that my parents bought the Christmas presents; I felt like I was entering into a different level of growing up. One of my aunties told me, and my mom was so mad at her for telling me that I believe it was actually harder for my mom than it was for me. I guess because I’m the youngest, she wanted to keep that lovely tradition going for a little longer. She kept telling my auntie, “I can’t believe it was you! I’d understand if one of her siblings did it… but you??” My auntie laughed and felt bad at the same time. She didn’t do it on purpose though—she thought I knew. Anyway, even when I stopped sending my letters, I kept talking to God and asking him for the things I wanted.
Because of the way I found out, I’ve always been extra careful talking about the subject whenever children are around. Come on, I don’t want to be the one who gives that type of news. I love seeing children believing. I love seeing their cute little faces and the happiness and joy they exude when they open that special gift from Santa. I’m certain that everyone with a good heart can agree with me about this: believing has a magical, amazing effect. It gives us joy! So why don’t we just keep believing? It doesn’t hurt.
If you don’t want to write a letter, that’s fine. If you think you’ll look silly asking Santa (or God) for the things your heart craves, then don’t do it. But before you completely dismiss the idea, let me tell you the most beautiful explanation I have ever heard about Santa.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to some friends when one of them got a call from his daughter. She was really excited because she’d just received boxes of presents from him. She lives in a different country, so her dad sent her lots of Christmas presents by mail. He was telling my mom and me that he went crazy and got a little more than he was supposed to get for her this year. When we asked him why, he told us that she told her mom she didn’t want anything this year. He explained us that when she found out who buys the presents, she asked him, “Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we were good friends.” She was kind of shocked because she felt like her dad had been lying to her all those years.
But he replied, “I wasn’t lying to you. You see, Santa may not bring the presents himself, but he provides me with good health, a good job, and everything I need to buy the presents for you. So, you must keep believing!” The reason she didn’t want to ask for anything this year was because she felt like her dad was working so much, with so little time to rest, that she didn’t want to ask for something that would make him have to work even harder. When he heard that, his heart broke a little. So he went all in and got her a bit more than she was expecting.
We must keep believing, my friends! We’re free to ask for good health, for inner peace, for the ability to see and do everything from a place of love, for joy, for happiness, for laughter, for self-love, for respect, for the capacity to see the good in every situation, and for the desire to make this world a better place through our actions.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
Irene
