I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. It still doesn't make it any easier, though.
Santa Claus isn't real. He's just pretend. I guess parents tell their kids about him so they can get all excited about Christmas, but I don't like parents lying to their kids about something that doesn't really happen.
The other day when I took my little handicapped brother, Mylo, to see Santa at the store, while waiting in line, I overheard him talking to one of his "elves" about what he thought of children who come to see him. What he was saying wasn't nice. It crushed my heart. It was all I could do to keep from crying.
He was saying something like this: "I hate it when I have to see kids who can't walk or can't talk. What can they possibly be thinking, and how can I know what they want for Christmas?? Are they that stupid or something?"
I tried to laugh it off, but inside, I was hurting. When I went up to Santa, I tried to pretend that nothing was wrong, but I told him what my brother wanted anyway, since Mylo couldn't do it for himself. I then walked away and tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall from my eyes.
Besides, this Santa Claus was Spanish. I never knew any Spanish Santa Clauses. All the Santa Clauses I had seen were white, either in picture books or in real life, around Christmastime.
When we got home that day, I asked my mommy and daddy if Santa Claus was real or pretend. They told me he was only pretend. I then got mad and asked them why they lied to me about him; I was furiously angry. I have since forgiven them, but I still feel empty somehow deep inside.
Mommy told me the real reason for Christmas was that Jesus was born. I knew all about Jesus from Sunday School: I knew about how He had been born in a manger, grew up as a carpenter's son, and went around the world, telling about the gospel; then ended up dying on a cross because of man's sin against his Father, God. He then came back to life two days later and went up to Heaven, where He still lives.
People still celebrate Jesus' birth all these years later. That's why Christmas is known as " 'CHRIST'mas", even though His actual birthday isn't really known. Only God knows that for sure.
The thought of Jesus being born is nice enough, but I still loved the thought of a magical man from the North Pole coming to deliver presents on his sleigh to good little boys and girls around the world! Still, when I heard that Santa Claus at the mall make that comment about kids like my little brother, it hurt me. It really and truly hurt me.
I guess Santa was having a bad day, or he clearly didn't like kids, especially kids like Mylo, who couldn't help the way they were. I guess kids like my little brother made him very uncomfortable or something.
Anyway, that got me thinking. If Santa Claus didn't like kids, what was he doing working as a Santa Claus?? It didn't seem to make any sense whatsoever!!
At least Jesus is real: He isn't pretend. Pastor Mark at my church tells me that all the time, as does Miss Mamie, my Sunday school teacher.
I just wish I had found out about Santa Claus in a different way; that way, it wouldn't have been so hard, especially when he made that crack about kids like Mylo!
I am going to have to pray to God for Him to change Santa Claus' heart because Santa Claus was acting more like a Grinch!!
