In the "Peanut" cartoon Lucy wrote to Santa, "I am looking forward to your arrival. Bring me lots of everything, the more the better. Regards, Lucy." Peanuts who watched closeby thought to himself that Christmas surely "'Tis the season to be greedy." Children are very vulnerable during the Christmas season to greediness as are their parents. Most of us teach our children that Santa as an old fat man with a long white beard, sitting on a throne somewhere in the far out reaches of the sky. When he's not herding reindeer or making toys, he's judging us day by day to be worthy or unworthy of Christmas presents. How does that song go? "You better be good, you better be kind, Santa Clause is coming to town. He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you are awake; he knows when you were bad or good; so be good for goodness sake!" Unfortunately, even though many of us were good, we didn't get what we prayed for. Most of us agree it is the universal rule that many of us just get what we need not what we want except for kids at Christmas.

While I firmly believe some nuns and spiritual leaders can effect a difference of circumstances, as far as us regular people go, perhaps prayer is really meant to change ourselves, our mindset, our outlook and attitudes. I do believe in affirmations of all kinds. When we engage in affirmative thoughts and prayers, we affirm that the God's spirit is within us, always providing the wisdom, strength, confidence and perseverance to successfully manage the situations and circumstances of our lives.

It is true that many of us have begged and bargained for a different or reversal of fortune.  Many mortals are not only "greedy" but "envious" of another's circumstances. On the evening before Jesus died, he even seemed to be rethinking the bargain he had made with his own father and Lord, to no avail. If he could not sway a difference in his own fate by prayer, surely us mortals cannot either. I think it is important not to forget the word "Christ" in Christmas. On the other hand, what a whimsical and quirky world we would live if we received everything we asked for and that God would be dependent on the prayer power of us mortals.

What is God to you? To me, he is the nurturer of the universe, the spirit of life within every living thing; the first cause and creator of all that is. Most importantly, God is love, our own Santa, the greatest author and artist and the brightest light and highest hope for our future. While it is tis' the season for praying, be careful what you pray for because you just might get it and it might just not be what you need at this moment in time..