By Winnie Bolton
While I was volunteering eight years ago, helping a group of elementary students write their letters to Santa Claus, I asked the children what’s important to remember about the Christmas season.
A young girl answered, “My mom says to remember the poor who may not get presents but I don’t know where they live. Maybe Santa knows.”
Another student interjected, “My grandparents live in Indiana and I’m asking Santa to bring them a special present from me.”
“I want my Dad to come home for Christmas. I miss him,” said an 8-year-old blond boy.
Some of the children knew what they wanted to ask Santa for, others became pensive wondering what was really important.
I suggested to be quiet and listen to their hearts because it will never lie to you.
Then one of the children said, “I want to ask Santa to stop my dad and mom from fighting. How do I say that?”
To which another student answered, “Just say it makes you sad when they do that.”
When I asked the boy who wanted his father home for Christmas where the father lived, he answered, “in Texas.”
One of the kids remarked “That’s far away. Is he a cowboy? Maybe he doesn’t have enough money to come home but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”
I was humbly touched by their caring about one another and others. All they needed from me was help with spelling and completing sentences.
By the time we finished our letters to Santa Claus, most of the class had decided to ask for one gift under the tree and one in their stocking.
Santa could give something for every kid that way, they said and lots of food to eat, they shouted.
A 10-year-old strolled by our long library table and laughingly said, “You guys still believe in Santa Claus?”
The young fellow whose father lived in Texas called him a nerd and we all smiled knowing what we wrote came from our hearts.
I left with a large manila envelope with their letters safely tucked inside.
I made copies for them to give to their parents and sent the original to the North Pole in care of Santa Claus.
