Being raised in a fairly religious home, I was always taught to take my needs to God – pray about things and ask him for help. And, like the other little kids in my Sunday School class, despite being told praying for wants wasn’t why we prayed to God, whenever Christmas or birthdays rolled around I used to pray to God, asking him for this grand present or that far-fetched gift.
When I was in university, working at a local bar I knew I definitely shouldn’t be, I stopped asking God for things. I figured I was really in no position to be doing so, so I kept my praying for things for only necessities, like safety. I still prayed to him, still do actually. I thank him for my meals and though I usually end up falling asleep before I can say my night time prayers, I do pray in the morning. I say a little prayer to thank him for the new day and for the potential of it. I’ve never been one to ever ask him for my wants though.
In the past two years, beyond just giving thanks, I’ve only honestly asked God for two things. I asked him to keep Snickers safe during his fight in the Philippines. I didn’t pray that he’d win, I just wanted him to be kept safe. Then I asked him to spare my mother and keep her with us. She was the much-needed pillar in my family, especially with my brother and I living out of country and my oldest brother having quite the handful with three daughters. I repeatedly begged God to save my mother. I never was like, “Oh if you save my mom I promise to believe”, no. It was more like I expected him to save her. It was a given in my mind because she was the strongest believer in him that I had ever met and if anyone was ever deserving of a death pardon it was her. Even on her death bed she gave him thanks and glorified him.
Well, Snickers’ fight ended because of an injury he endured and my mom died before my eyes. The irony of it all was sickening. It was like a sick joke, God taking away from me the only two things I prayed so earnestly about.
So what does this have to do with my above posting of Vita Ali and me writing letters to Santa, good question...
Vita Girl asked me if God brought her Christmas presents and I looked at her and said, “No, silly. That’s Santa”. “God takes things” I mumbled to myself. She doesn’t really believe in Santa, nor do I, but I figured with it being Christmas you have to believe in something extra special, something to get you more in the Christmas spirit. When I asked her why she doesn't believe in Santa, she showed me a map. It was a cartoon-like map of the world with various pictures depicting highlights of each country.
"Here" she said as she pointed to Finland, "This is where Santa lives".
There on the map section of Finland stood a pudgy Santa Claus. Vita Ali told me that the secret is that Santa doesn't live at the North Pole, like they all say he does, but instead lives in Finland. She's convinced he is just a normal person living like you and me but in Finland, so he's nothing really special or anyone to really believe in.
"It doesn't matter where he lives, the fact is he works so hard all year to make one single day, Christmas, to so special for so many people -- people he doesn't even know. That's what makes him so special." I told her. "And just think" I added, "he does all this hard work for only milk and cookies... I guess we really shouldn't tease him about his weight!" I added.
I ended up mailing our letters to Santa but I'm almost tempted to write back to Vita Ali's letter, and pose as Santa in doing so. I think it'd be hilarious to see her reaction. I've been told that letters do get responded to but I'm not sure. I remember back in the day I wrote a letter to Santa once, secretly, and I actually did get a response. Times are different now, perhaps an email to Santa would have been better, but secretly I'm hoping I do get a response. It would certainly make for one cool Christmas story down the line!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment