Is Santa real? There is a Santa Claus

A few weeks ago, my oldest son, who is 11, asked me if Santa Claus was real. I thought carefully before I began to answer his question, and after a moment, I asked him what he thought about it. His response was, "Well, Mom, I think that Santa Claus is just a symbol of Christmas, but Mom and Dad buy the gifts." He paused, and then added, "But, how can that be when I know you don't have the money for many things at all, and we have had some Christmases with lots of presents? Maybe, he is real. Would you please tell me the truth?

I told my son about just a couple of times when Santa came to visit on Christmas.

When my oldest was about 4 and my second born was only a year old, I was pregnant with my daughter, living with my parents, had no job, and no money. Times were hard. Things in my life just weren't going very well, and I was thankful that my parents were there to help. Nevertheless, it was Christmas time, and I was determined that job or no job, I was going to find a way to make money to buy my boys something for Christmas.

I decided that since I couldn't find a job at that time, I would drive along the road and stop to pick up aluminum cans. I could take them to the recyclers and make a little money that way. So, for many days, I would get up in the morning, load my boys into my van, and we would drive around. I would stop the van, get out, pick up cans, put them in a bag, and move on to the next stop. I tried my best to make it a game for my boys, so they would not be so bored. After several hours, and hopefully a few bags of cans, we would go turn them in for money. Unfortunately, I was rarely ever able to gather enough cans to do more than replace the gas I had used in the vehicle. I felt like I was getting nowhere, and fast, but I was still determined to try.

On one of these excursions, a friend of the family stopped me. This person knew my current situation, and also knew that I was pregnant. I was asked how things were going, and what-not. I was also asked what in the world I was doing out in the cold along the side of the road. My reply was that I was trying to make enough money to buy Christmas for my boys, even if it was only something small. I was told to be careful, and that was that.

I didn't give much though to that encounter out on the roadside. A few nights later, I went back to my parent's house after a day of picking up cans. My boys were sleeping in the van, and my Mom helped me to carry them in and put them to bed. Once that was done, she told me that she had something to show me in the basement. I thought that maybe I broke something when I had been doing laundry and didn't realize it. I followed her down the stairs and towards her dryer. When she stopped, I asked her what was wrong. She said, "Nothing, just look". She was pointing to two bags sitting on the floor. I opened them and inside were gifts. They were wrapped up, and on each was one of my kids' names and they all said, "From, Santa". I asked Mom who had brought them. She told me that it was the person I had spoken to on the roadside a few days earlier. Both of us had tears in our eyes, and we couldn't hold them back. I looked at my Mom and said, "There really is a Santa Claus."

That was the first time that Santa came to visit on Christmas for my kids. The second time, I was working at a nursing home. Recently divorced, and struggling to make ends meet. As most places do, we all celebrated Christmas. We did this in a couple of ways. One way was to buy a gift for one of the residents. We would all draw a name and then buy a gift for the person whose name we picked. The other way was to buy gifts for each other.

I managed to buy a gift for a resident, but when it came time for the co-worker part, I knew I really could not do it. I was doing all I could just to buy my kids second-hand gifts. I have long ago convinced my kids that Santa recycles toys. I told them that sometimes they get used toys because Santa picked them up from another little boy or girl who no longer wanted that toy to give it to someone who did. I told them that is the reason why we always get rid of their unwanted toys at Christmas time. Because of this, I wasn't too worried about the second-hand gifts they would be getting, but I did want to get them some new toys and clothes.

When you work around other parents, Christmas time is a time when everyone discusses what their kids want and what they will get for Christmas. This was an everyday conversation. I thought absolutely nothing of it when I would be asked things like, "What do your kids want for Christmas? How old are they?" It was just normal talk.

The week before Christmas, we all gathered to present our bosses with gifts from the staff. I didn't want to join in because I hadn't been able to contribute. I felt sad and embarrassed. The nurse I was working with insisted that I go, so I gave in and went to watch the bosses open their gifts. I was just getting ready to go back to work, when we were all told to stay for a few more minutes. The bosses had an announcement to make.

The announcement was that they had all chosen two members of the staff that they felt would truly appreciate help with Christmas, and who truly needed it. They said that the two people they chose were dedicated workers, and very committed to helping everyone. Then, they asked me to step forward. My mouth dropped open. I couldn't believe it. They had all pulled together and bought Christmas for my kids. There was so much there that it filled my entire van. I cried, and I thanked them all. That was the second time Santa came to visit on Christmas.

So, when my son asked me if Santa Claus is real, I told him that Yes, he is. Santa Claus represents the Spirit of Giving that fills us all, especially this time of year. He may not be a jolly old fat man who wears a red suit and drives a sleigh, but Santa Claus is very much alive in all of us who help those in need and make their Christmas a little brighter.