Do You Believe In Santa Claus?

Image from Google Images

My 9 year old granddaughter, Hope, has probably had questions for a couple of years but she finally asked her mom the question this year...."Is Santa Claus really you?"

This is how my daughter, Joanna, answered. Much of it came from a letter she found on the internet, origin unknown, and some she added herself. I have edited it some for length. I like the spirit of this response to Hope's question.

I bet you have wanted to know for a long if I am really Santa. The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa. I am the one who fills your stocking and leaves presents under the tree. I do it for you the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (Daddys help, too). I imagine you will do it for your own children some day, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sitting by the tree with their small faces lit with Christmas lights.

This won't make you Santa, though. Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us has lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to believe in something they can't see or touch. It's a big job, and it's an important one. Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe:  in yourself, in your friends, in your talents, in your family and, most importantly, in God. You'll also need to believe in things you can't measure or even hold in your hand.  

Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve.: he has help from all the people whose hearts he has filled with joy.

With hearts full of love, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.

So, no, I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I am on his team, and now you are too.