from the north pole to your living room (why santa matters)

last night one of my friends came by the house to be "santa" for my kids. he is the official "food giant in pinson"santa, so he has a good suit and is well-versed in santa-hood. so he gave the kids a gift and talked to them and let my wife take multiple pictures when kate's eyes were closed. and i have to admit, it was special. kate (2) was absolutely beside herself with joy and was overly hospitable to the Jolly One, offering (and following through) to let santa see every stuffed animal in the house. drew (6) was genuinely happy and impressed that santa knew he liked baseball and video games, and he knew his cousins. and drew refrained from asking for a dirt bike, which would have put me on the hook for one, or made santa out to be a lying cheapskate. and even abbey (8) was right there, believing (?) that santa had made the trip to see her and her brother and sister. i wonder how long she will believe, but for last night, i think she did.

i know many people do not do the whole santa thing, opting instead to teach their kids about the real st nicholas and his generosity. and that is cool. we have chosen to perpetuate the myth, and for now, i am glad. even if there is no obese toy-maker living at the top of the world, the spirit lives on in the imaginations of my kids. and in the kindness of a Kiker. not many guys would do that for kids. dress up in an itchy suit and make house calls. but i am grateful to my friend that would.

all year long, it seems, i was confronted with circumstances that reminded me that some friends will betray you. but many more won't. they will stick by you and buy you ribs and be santa for you and leave their churches for you and give you a spot on their basketball team. and i am so glad to have those friends. the heart of st nick, and indeed the heart of Christ, is alive in them. and i have needed to see tangible, real workings-out of who Christ is. something that got him out of the manger, or sky, or whatever, into the real mess of my life. and through that i have been reminded how good my friends are, and how good my God is.

as i think back on 2007, i will surely think of the upheaval we experienced in march, and how the dust is still settling. i will think of how hard it was, and how wrong too. but i also will think of many good things. my sweet, sweet family. my dear friends. a red sox world championship. and a grocery store santa who also makes the best burgers in the world.

merry christmas, all.