We all know about Santa Claus. We know the story about how he receives list from little children, lists that are requests for presents for a certain time of year. We also know that he “knows” who was naughty or nice, and that, in one spectacular night, he visits every household in the world and delivers the presents to all the children. But do we know the story of Santa being lost then found? Well, gather around my children and let me tell you this story.
Santa has existed in the minds of man for about two hundred years, an imagination of one man to bring happiness to little girls and boys. He crafted a story of a jolly old man, that lived within the deep recesses of the North Pole, with little people called elves. Eleven months of the years is dedicated to making toys, and the twelfth month is preparation to deliver these toys. Santa took great pride in this job he had, knowing that little children depended on him for happiness, and gifts. But Santa did have his moments. Moments of wondering where and when all this began, and wondering if he always had existed from the beginning of time. He began to think, and think, and think. "Yes it had to be. I always existed, I always lived." So he continued believing he was the source of everyone's happiness. And he continued to make toys, and flying around the world delivering his gifts to children. He believed in himself as the immortal being of the world.
One night, as he was preparing for his trip around the world, he was making changes in his flight plan. He came to the conclusion that he needs to change his routine every now and again to keep a fresh perspective on his life. This night though, it would change everything he believed about himself, and his purpose in life. This night his life would forever change. As he made his deliveries, his last stop would take him to a little village called Bethlehem, at a dwelling he has never stopped at before. There was no chimney to slide down, so he had to go in the front door. This little building, was a barn, and occupied by cattle and other farm type animals. “Strange” thought Santa, “ how did this place get on my delivery schedule?” Then he heard a baby crying, heard voices emanating from the stable area of the barn. There he saw a sight that left the biggest impression on his life that no other has done, before or since. He saw a man, a woman, a new born, and several shepherds congregating around the family.
“What is going on here?”, Santa asked of one of the shepherds. One of the shepherd's spoke up and introduced himself as the more experience shepherd. “We have a miracle before us” he explained. “We saw angels in the sky that instructed us to come here and witness the start of a new life.” The experienced shepherd started to explain to Santa about the Scriptures as he knew it, and that this baby they came to see was foretold in their scriptures as the one who would save the world. He explained all that God has revealed about Himself and His plans for the world. Santa listened very intently, then he realized, that his life was actually created, that God has given him the ability to do what he does every year. As all that the shepherd was relating to him started to sink in, Santa became very humbled and ashamed that he thought so highly of himself. He knelt down before the Christ child and asked God for His forgiveness and to make him a new person. That night, known as Christmas night, the Santa that was lost, now he was found.
From that point on, Santa looked at his life as a mission to all the little children, praying that they would see the true meaning of Christmas and that their gifts came from God and not himself. Knowing he was just their imagination, he delegated his job to the parents, allowing them to buy the gifts and teaching their children about the true Christmas gift. This was the night that Santa was truly found.
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