Children are the crowned jewels of bringing Christmas Magic to life. Not only do they easily believe in the big guy, but they receive the Spirit of Christmas with profound joy and curiosity. One year my neice wanted a big, pink Minnnie Mouse. She was only 3 and my mom wanted to get her what she wanted and elicited my help. I found a GIANT, pink Minnie Mouse and got it. We stuffed it in a bag and kept it in the garage while we opened presents. I snuck out of the house and grabbed the giant plush along with a set of sleigh bells. I came to the front door and dropped the sack off, shook the bells, and gave my heartiest Ho, Ho, Ho! I heard the commotion of excited from inside and hurried off. I almost didn't make it out of view before they opened the front door. As the excited continued on I made my way back inside and joined in the curiosity of what Santa left at the front door. As soon as my neice opened the sack to find the massive Minnie Mouse and excited shrill came out of her mouth. She wrapped her arms around the plush toy that was bigger than her, buried her head into it, and yelled exhasperatedly, "It's what I've always wanted!" To this day, we remind her of the joy she had once had be echoing "It's what I've always wanted," whenever she opened gifts.
Every Christmas Eve as my children go to bed and anxiously not fall asleep, I sneak outside with sleigh bells to shake violently and yell Ho, Ho, Ho! I was creep back inside I can hear the hustle and bustle of the excitement. I join my wife explaining to them that Santa must be in the neighborhood and they better get to sleep or he might pass our house. Obviously, this logical reasoning doesn't work on toddlers and pre-schoolers. However, their excitement and joy is hightened for the big day. As morning comes we awaken with the amazement of gifts. My oldest receives an apple from Santa every year because that was the first gift he ever asked for. When he pulls his apple from his stocking he immediately starts chomping away. This year Santa will have to be creative in figuring out how to set up in one night an indoor playset that'll take up half a room. This may be the best Christmas my children have had yet.
Lights and decorations never seem dull when children believe it's Christmas Magic. In my house, Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving. I've been reminded of that several times by my wife. It's a good thing too, because after Halloween we have to settle into Christmas and Thanksgiving is a perfect way to ease into the Holiday Spirit. The evening after Thanksgiving is when the house comes alive with Christmas lights. Every year, it's like a light switch turns on in my children and their faces exude with amazement.
Being Santa isn't about the gift giving. It's about bringing out the joy and excitement in the experiences we share. The feeling of watching someone's heart jump for joy and wonder is the Christmas Magic we all need every year.
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