My peace with Santa

Santa Claus and I finally came to an understanding by way of an email. 

Thanks to http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/seasonGreets.html  for having a copy of this old email urban legend:

WHO IS SANTA CLAUS?

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything.
She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted . . . "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through it's doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only nine years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-4 class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he had no good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.
"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.
Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95. 

I didn't have a Grandma to run to for help but this one helped me, too.  What I got out of this email was the beauty of Santa is that being his helper I can secretly give to someone that would not accept charity or gifts otherwise.   You can hide behind the secrecy of Santa to give to those that you may not be able to be in contact any other way.  There is a generosity and caring that coexists with Santa in a fascinating way.  The season of Love turns Scrooges into kindly old men, Grinches's hearts expand, and Santa can shower gifts on any one you wish.  It can become magical  Unfortunately, like many things in life there is no guarantee.  I have encountered those that are determined to make everyone's life miserable.  The happier you are, the more they are determined to destroy it.  So like the Who's down in Who'sville I came to the decision that Christmas comes every year on the same date no matter what, it is up to me what kind of Christmas I will have.  One last poem that I finally found after searching for a couple of years.

Santa Announces Christ....  http://www.santasearch.org/texts.asp?Do=4&TextID=1046

Christmas Thoughts
by Steed, David M.      

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
And on goes the story about Christmas Eve
And the jolly old man in whom we believe

Have you even wondered how Santa came to be
So important to Christmas and to you and to me?
Well, it all began a long time ago
The night before Christ to earth was to go

All prepared to make Christ's birth well announced
With angels and music and anthems pronounced
But alas, all had forgotten in the final rush
How to make Christ's birthday remembered to us

The kingdom was searched for the most excellent plan
That would help us remember God's gift to man
A saintly old fellow, so jolly and gay
Came up with the best plan that was offered that day

He said, "Send a fellow each year at this time
Who would help people be happy and comfort their minds
He could help man remember that God loves us so
By bringing presents to both friend and foe

"He would show by example that true love and joy
Come only when shared with each girl and each boy"
Heaven decided that Santa's plan would be just right
And Santa was asked to play the part that very first night

So from the first Christmas right down to today
When one heard the bells jingling and saw the big sleigh
They knew it was Santa making his way
To remind the world of the love Jesus gave

So, this night before Christmas when you hear Santa come
Remember he's doing it for the love of God's Son
Remember that he teaches as did Christ of old
That to give of one's self is more precious than gold

Picture of Santa kneeling at the manger.  This is my view of Santa Claus. 

http://www.target.com/p/Kneeling-Santa-Figure/-/A-12387083?reco=Rec|pdp|12387083|ClickCP|item_page.adjacency&lnk=Rec|pdp|12387083|ClickCP|item_page.adjacency