Grumpy Side of 60
What’s Christmas really about?
By Bob Robinson

“Dear Santa. I love you. Will you take some of my stuff and give it to all the other kids in the world?” “Can you bring a kindle for my dad so he’ll have something to do?”

Kids are awesome. They can say and do some of the most fascinating and entertaining things. One of those times is with their letters to Santa. Take, for example, the concern over being naughty or nice…

“Gove nottie kids toys too. They might not deserve it but still do it. Do it and I’ll give you extra cookies.”

“If I am on the noty list I would feel sad.”

“I have been a very good girl this year. I have not been fighting with my two brothers at all for a long while.”

“I have been very good good good.”

“Sometimes I’m bad. Sometimes I’m good. Can you forgive me?”

How’s that for honesty? But these I liked best…

“I was good in December.” Only December? “Will you get dad some money so he can pay his bills?” Give the child a gold star.

Many of these youngsters said they have been good all year (whether they were or not). They help with the dishes and clean their rooms and take care of their pets… then go into what they want. And sometimes they “really really really” want it.

Some kids have short lists, others have long ones. One child said he didn’t want much but can I have ‘blank’ and ‘blank’ and ‘blank’? And can I have ‘blank’? And then one or two more… “And can I have…”

I typed about 175 letters to ship off to Santa this year. My shoulders got tired, my fingers grew numb and my eyes glazed over but I enjoyed the challenge of deciphering many of them, and I was often impressed at how often the children thought about others in addition to (or instead of) themselves…

“Please give some food to the people that cannot afford it and water and a frig to keep their food and water cold please. Thank you please can you get me an ipod that will be very nice. Can you help the people that have been bad and to be good please. Make my family and friends and teachers have a happy Christmas. I want my wish to come true to help people have the best Christmas in the world and to get a family if they do not have a family for they can take care of that persen to be happy and loved and cared about. We get familys so they shoud get a mom, dad, brother or a sister or a little brother or sister too.”

Another child asked for a heating pad for his mom’s back because she’d had surgery; and… “Santa help the people with cancer. Give them some stuff that they need.” Another child wanted a notebook for her mom to help her remember things.

“You need to give presents to kids who don’t have any. Also like old people need medsen. I’m sad because people get their leg cut off and you need to give a leg that makes like the other leg. I am sad old people are dieing. I am sick can you give me medicine pleas Santa. My cat is itching can you give my cat love please Santa and Mrs. Claus are the best.”

Then there’s the little boy who offers to pay Santa $7.61 if he will bring them food and socks for his mom who is sick. He wants nothing for himself. His selfless thoughtfulness for his family struck the hearts of some in Darke County. They helped make the family’s Christmas a little better.

I believe that’s what Christmas is really about.

Published courtesy of The Early Bird