Comments on: The Year Without a Christmas Tree

By: Kerry Patterson

Kerry Patterson — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 16:35:56 +0000

Not after all of these years. The process is actually quite simple. You don’t force your child to sit with Santa. Instead you hold the child while standing at a safe distance (one where the child isn’t frightened). You then talk about what nice Santa is doing–asking the child to make observations as well. While doing this you slowly edge closer–never advancing if it makes the child nervous. You continue this gentle, positive, slow process until the child is willing to draw close, touch his costume, etc. It usually takes around a half an hour or so.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:00:57 +0000

Thank you for our article. I have a question, would you by any chance still have that page of instructions you handed out to parents?

By: Kerry Patterson

Kerry Patterson — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:58:54 +0000

In reply to Kathy. Thanks.

By: Kerry Patterson

Kerry Patterson — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:57:57 +0000

In reply to Bernie Meyer. Thank you Bernie for this helpful reminder.

By: Bernie Meyer

Bernie Meyer — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:31:11 +0000

I would just like to remind you that just as God created you, the “handsome, affable” college kid, the “steadfast, efficient, and delightful” teenagers and the selfless children in His image, which is what gives you and them incalculable, eternal worth, He also created the “shifty, tipsy, grimy, stinky, queasy, seedy, horribly unreliable, listless, leering, stinking, complaining, belching, and missing” vagrants in His image, which also gives THEM incalculable, eternal worth in His eyes–equal to yours, and that He sent His beloved Son to die for their sins to offer them the possiblity of redemption, just as much as He did for your sins and to offer you the possibility of redemption. I have spent time with such people, and once you get to know them and hear their stories, you begin to realize they are human beings who are hurting, who’ve made bad choices, yes, but are beloved by God for all that, and are not there for you to use as comical props for a story or to demean. Proverbs says that man judges by the outward appearance, but God judges the hearts. That so much effort and aggravation would be involved in trying to create the illusion of an imaginary figure, and that almost no one BUT lost and destroyed men would even be willing to do it–doesn’t that raise a question about the value of the whole “Santa Clause” enterprise? Maybe we should instead invest all that effort and labor into reminding others and one another what the actual origin of this holdiay is and what actually invests it with real meaning: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him, might not perish, but have everlasting life.” May the true joy and peace of this season be yours today, and for the rest of your days.
– Bernie Meyer

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:55:42 +0000

As usual your stories never disappoint and always inspire us all to look for and see the best in any situation and definitely in other people. Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the time with your family and loved ones 🙂

By: Kerry Patterson

Kerry Patterson — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:29:00 +0000

In reply to Matt Metzger. Many, as you suggest, are quite a delight and perfectly suited to the job. Sadly, when selecting Santas we didn't find the odds in our favor that year but this forced David and me into the backup role and that turned out to be a cherished memory.

By: Matt Metzger

Matt Metzger — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:02:09 +0000

Sad commentary on how to select Proper Santas. The ones I have seen here are quite jolly and look forward to the gig each year. Can Michigan be that different?

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:01:09 +0000

Lesson Learned: Finding the positive in everything we do changes your perspective. A beautiful lesson for all year round.

By: Leslie Pemble

Leslie Pemble — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 13:52:12 +0000

Really enjoyed the article. Thank you.