Christmas brings out fully the little child that I really am. I have always loved Santa. In my growing up years I read about the history behind this man called Santa. Santa Claus or rather Saint Nicholas was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra (part of modern-day Turkey). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out and is known in particular for secretly providing money for the dowry for three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian (he visited their house after they had gone to bed and left three bags of gold coins in three stockings left over the fireplace for drying). Many miracles were attributed to his intercession, and because of that he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker! His feast day is 6 December and it later got tied up with the Christmas traditions.
Christmas season is indeed magical. When my kids hope for Santa to come in his red dress
I tell them that Santa always loves to give gifts secretly so he sends his
gifts through someone and whenever we get something that we dearly wanted that
nobody knew about, then it is Santa’s gift.
All through my childhood I believed that Santa sends me a gift on christmas…and I still
believe it! I have often got gifts around Christmas time that nobody knew I
wanted, sometimes even I didn't know until it arrived its winding way to me!
My best Christmas memories are of Halwara Punjab
where I was part of the carol troop when I was about 11 and 12 years old. It was fun visiting houses and singing carol
songs all through the Christmas season.It was a magical time indeed. I was very proud to be the one holding
baby Jesus. There was only one problem. When we got into the coach after each house
visit, the Awesome Santa became just a normal man when someone adjusted his
make up for him! That’s really a deflator for a child who wants to believe the
Santa is real!
When we moved from there I missed the Christmas
fervor in every other place. Missed singing the carols with a proper troupe…
From the year 2007 I had been thinking that it is the new born
Jesus who should be getting a gift from me and not vice versa and so I was trying
to gift baby Jesus something on Christmas. It was my book. Such a silly
childish thought! So nobody but I knew of this Christmas co relation of why I
only tried for a publisher once a year and that too as the year was ending. I
worked on my manuscript as the Christmas season approached and would try usually for just one publisher and ... fail and work on my manuscript again. It became a cycle and I
was thinking Jesus would take my book when he would be fully satisfied with
it. The book would grow as I re read it each
year end and edited it adding new insights.
But as six years passed, in my heart maybe I was beginning to suspect that Jesus didn't really appreciate it too much or want it on His birthday! This September after my book became an e-book, I wasn't even remotely thinking of anything for December but coincidentally my
husband gave my book into print in the Christmas Season without being aware in any way of my little secret! I was surprised and happy for more than one reason when I came to know of it a few days ago. Evidently Baby Jesus did want the book in print on
his birthday, but from my Husband's Hands?! Who knows His mind or ways....
When I was tired of trying to gift something to Jesus,
I got it as a Christmas gift to me instead!
SO I have no gift to give this Christmas or
do I? A few days before December 1st, my daughters instrumental music teacher gave me the musical notes of Christmas carol
songs! (Maybe he felt I would be interested in them as I had taken from him notes for some
church songs a few months earlier.) It
was a surprise, so I felt that playing the carol songs on the synthesizer was
what baby Jesus actually wanted as gift
from me.
As I play a different carol each day of this December I am reminded of
the times with the carol troupe. Travelling each day together as troupe to some
different locality, different people in different houses. How I loved observing
it all. I remember also that I particularly observed the strumming on the
Guitars. I remember how I fell in love with instrumental music. Didn't I always
want to play the songs on an instrument? As I play them each day of december I
am still not sure - it is a gift from me or again a
gift to me?!
Jerly that was such a sweet post coming straight from the heart! May Santa bring many more surprizes like the book you cherished to be published!Wish you a merrry X mas, though a bit early:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rahul! The birthday maybe 25th but the Christmas Season starts from late November to early Jan. SO look out for ur gifts and the Magic! Wish u a memorable magical Christmas season Rahul... :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! As I came towards the end, there was a smile on my face. God shows his love/presence to us, in very special ways.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo! I was expecting ur comment AND a smile :)
ReplyDeleteIts TRUE..evryone has his own part and blessings
ReplyDeleteBrilliant write-up...Lovely post, really :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Jerly :)
Welcome Ruchi to my blog, thanks for visiting and leaving ur words for me
ReplyDeleteThanks Irfanuddin! I am so glad u liked it as much :)
thats so Christmassy...
ReplyDeleteyes, this is such a wonderful and more memory-filed season...
but somehow i have never been fond of Santa thing...for whatever reason...
didnt know your MS had such a long wait.. did Jesus want it that way? maybe...
mmm my wait didnt last that long i think for the first one esply...
ok
have a Christ-filled Christmas
i have never seen any christmas celebrations ever..so your post made me imagine how much fun christmas could be...:)
ReplyDeletethe beauty in the presence of god leaves me adrift everytime. He's often right outside with the things that we want, just that we're not open eyed into looking at it.
ReplyDeleteThis Christmas, wish you love, success and tonnes of happiness.
Take Care :)
Thanks Deeps for ur wishes
ReplyDeleteThanks Vandana. I am reallly glad u cud imagine the fun thru this post!
Thanks Purple!!!! for wishing me all that!! Love, Success and Tonnes of happiness Thats SO SWEET of you! I wish YOU ALLL of that as well.
Loads of love to u and all
Wish you a very happy Christmas & peaceful and prosperous New Year
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoyed your Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI used to believe in Santa as well =)
I still like to continue the Christmas tradition with a tree, gifts, and cookies for Santa. We'll start laying cookies out for Santa when we start a family!
Have a safe New Year!
oh thanks! Hope u have a great year too
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year..have a rocking year ahead..god bless U..
ReplyDeleteoh yes!! giving benefits the giver in many many ways...good for you!!
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
and Happy New year!
Thank u Jedidja Ruchi and Annmarie
ReplyDelete