I got this in a letter from someone... 

I don't know whom to credit it to...but it is beautiful....

The words speak for themselves...

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The true meaning of Christmas

This is how it happened .. I just finished the household chores for the

night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front

of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise,

Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.

 He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are

you doing?" I started to ask.  The words choked up in my throat,  and I

saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was

the eager, boisterous soul we all know.

He then answered me with a simple statement.

"TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with

one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the

tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them

the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has

forgotten."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it

before the mantle.  "Teach the children that the pure green color of the

stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting

hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of

man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach

the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago.

God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of

fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the

children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of  the

world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who

displaces the darkness."Once again he reached into his bag and removed a

WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath

symbolizes the real nature of  love. Real love never ceases.

Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of himself. "Teach the children

that I, Santa Claus symbolize the generosity and good will we feel

during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly

plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by

our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that

God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only-

begotten SON .  Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift."

"Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE and

presented HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on

the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the

shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps

to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol

that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it

was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth.

The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good

will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out

a BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the

sound of  the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell

symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that

the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children

the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am

but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM,

our LORD, our GOD."