When the children ask me, “Do you make all the toys?” I reply “NO, of course not. I am much too OLD a Spirit for all that work. My Elves make the toys.” Then I ask them if they know the names of my Elves? Well, there is Matt Tel, he’s my oldest Elf. He’s been with me the longest. And then there’s Has Bro. He’s the boss of the Elves. I like to call him “my little bro.” Then there are the twins Fisher & Price Elf. They’re mischievous little imps always playing tricks on Santa, and of course there is my Native American Elf; Ton Ka. He’s the biggest Elf of them all. Some say he’s so big he’s built like a Truck. Finally there’s my singing Elf Presley . . . Elfis Presley. He’s the favorite of Mrs. Claus. She likes to call him “the King of the Elves.” A few weeks ago I was working a photo shoot and I turned to this little elf that was working with me and I asked her what her name was. She told me her name was “Presley.” NO JOKE. The Universe sometimes catches me off-guard in this way.
I was once told that the older children were teasing a 12 year old child about Believing in Santa. I told her that you’re never too old to believe; that Christmas is not just something you can hold in your hand. Christmas is the warmth of love and giving; it’s having family around to share your time. Christmas is seeing the wonder of the season in a child’s eyes or the twinkle in a 90 year old woman when the lights on the tree are lit for the first time that season and the memories she has in her heart begin to stir. Christmas is a time of year that brings out the best in everyone. You walk down the street and you say, “Hello, Merry Christmas” to a stranger. When you see them smile it brings the warmth of Christmas to your heart. It is remembering someone who will be alone by taking them a plate of food, giving them a hug, and chatting a while. Christmas is making sure that those who are not as fortunate have some small gift to make them smile.
Remember the real reason for the season; the birth of the Christ Child in a humble stable so many years ago. Thank God and Jesus for all you have. Remember that Christmas is not about how much you spend or how many things you buy.
Never stop believing in Christmas, and the wonder it brings. Letting a child believe in Santa is a gift you can give to all children. If someone tells you there is no Santa Claus, just smile and nod— because you know the truth. If I didn’t believe I would not be a Santa myself.
