I'll never forget the day our youngest sat next to me on the couch watching television. While what we were watching was relatively kid-friendly, I failed to remember there was a reference to Santa being the parents.
I sat still wondering if my son had noticed the conversation. All of the sudden, he pipes up with, "Wait. You're Santa? Santa's not real?"
My husband and older son sat silent, and I chimed in immediately, "Oh my goodness!" With excitement in my voice, I looked at my husband and said, "Do you think he's ready?"
My youngest asked quickly as he straightened himself up, "Ready for what? I'm ready!"
"I think he's ready. " my husband said with a smile.
"Ready for what?! What is happening?!"
"To become a Santa with us, buddy."
"I could be a Santa?!"
"That's who Santa really is, sweetheart. When you are old enough, you learn that giving is better than receiving. You learn to give without asking for anything in return. You become a Santa."
"Oh my gosh! So I'm a Santa now?!"
"You are, my love. Congratulations on being a big kid."
"Who do I give to then?! I'm ready!"
And the conversation continued. And there was no sadness...only excitement. And he purchased items for others with mommy in order to surprise them and see the joy in their eyes.
When our kids grew old enough, they didn't learn Santa wasn't real; they learned Santa is in all of us. And they proudly accepted the new role of being givers.
Credit: Anchoring Hope for Mental Health: Jeremy & Bailey Koch
Good afternoon my friend. Not much going on here today. Feeling kind of blue from the holiday and my kids being here. Now they are back to their homes and things are back to normal here. But I oh so enjoyed them being here. Kept me busy and my house was full of noise. I will get over it soon. Going to have a cold front come through tomorrow and make it very cold. Not looking forward to that. I'm not a cold weather person. Well enough chit chat. Take care my friend and many hugs to you. Cheryl
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1st Corinthians 13:13
"My barbershop is located in an old mining town called Rouyn-Noranda in northern Canada. I opened here because there were no other barbershops, only hair salons, which is something completely different. Wyatt showed up with his mother during the first week I was open. He was my first child who had special needs. I figured out how to work with him by getting down to his level. These moments are very special for me. I'm taking great pride barbering here and my community is amazingly supportive towards my shop. People drive up to 4 hours to get a haircut. We usually start by having a candy together and we walk around the shop looking at everything on the walls. The shop is packed with gifts from clients. We can also put some music on vinyl during the haircut. I'm never typically driving the haircut, I simply follow the lead of the child. It takes me more than an hour to finish with a special needs child. It is worth every minute."
After 4 days with NO sunshine and over 3-1/2" of rain, we are smiling and soaking up the rays this morning. It has been a dreary and soggy time over Texas but we always welcome the rain. It makes us appreciate the Sun more too. Thankful for everything God provides!
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