The other night I was reading the Christmas section of our local newspaper. Every year the newspaper prints letters from school children in grades kindergarten to second grade to Santa Claus. I do admire the editors of the paper because the letters are printed exactly the way the children write them, misspellings and all. Its heartwarming, and the sweet innocence of a child can bring a chuckle to the reader.

Im a dedicate reader of this section. I love reading each little letter and I thoroughly enjoy reading letters from children I know. This year troubled me a bit. I went through several pages reading these little letters and all of them contained I wantI wantI want. There were requested for horses, dogs, four-wheelers, Bratz dolls, money, X Boxes, and just about everything else material. Turning the page I found the same thing. I was beginning to feel a little depressed about the true meaning of Christmas. Then I found a letter to Santa that did ask for something material but it really touched me. A child had written Santa and asked for a real house to live in. I sat on the couch thinking about this little child. Of all the toys and things he could have asked for he asked for a real house. I glanced over at my child who was sitting on the floor in front of the television playing video games. How lucky we are, I thought.

After reading a few more I want letters I found another one that made me stop and think. This child did not ask for anything for herself, but was wishing for things for her parents and siblings. Yes, the request was for material objects, but none for herself. How sweet I thought.

I then read two entire newspaper pages before finding a letter that made me belly laugh. The child asked Santa for a baby brother so he would have someone to place with and he didnt think a baby sister would quite do. How cute I thought. Im sure his expecting parents had a chuckle, too.

I read about half a page before I found a letter to Santa that gripped my heart. The little author of this particular letter asked Santa how he was doing and that she would have cookies and milk for him when he came to her home. She then continued with her requestto bring her mother home from the war for Christmas because she missed her and loved her. That was her only request. I couldnt help myself. I sat on the couch and shed silent tears for this precious child. I began thinking of all our soldiers overseas and their sacrifices. I had not thought about them and their families until that very moment. The thought of a Christmas dinner with an empty chair and Christmas morning without a family member brought a feeling of sadness. I looked at my child once again and counted my blessings.

This morning while I was driving to work I was listening and singing along to Christmas Carols on the radio. I was feeling pretty festive while I belted out a few ear shattering notes. The song ended and the radio announcers had a surprise for a listener. The hype was intriguing and like every other listener I waited patiently while the radio station called the lucky listener. A man answered the phone and was asked permission to read a letter his wife had written to the radio station requesting a special present for him, her husband. The man agreed sounding somewhat puzzled. The letter was read and I found myself driving and crying. This woman had written a letter detailing why her husband was such a wonderful man and requested a special gift for him. She wrote telling how hard he worked and how dedicate he was to his family. She wrote about having breast cancer and how her husband unselfishly sold his prized possessions to make ends meet. Her request was to replace one of these items and several good-hearted people assisted in granted her wish. Listening to the letter and her husbands reaction once again touched my heart. How lucky I am, I thought.

I continued to drive while surfing radio stations. I wanted to hear more Christmas tunes, but settled on listening to the news. What I heard on the radio bothered me to no end. It seems that there are several groups or individuals who want to call a Christmas tree a Holiday tree because its politically correct. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. Not only are these people trying to take Christ out of Christmas, but they are trying to take Christmas out of Christmas! How ridiculous, I thought. Im for saying, Happy Holidays to include New Years, but to say it instead of Merry Christmas! Youve got to be kidding. Christmas is celebrating Christs birth. If it werent for Jesus birthday we wouldnt have a holiday at all!

I wonder how these people who want to take Christ out of Christmas would feel if they did not get December 25th as a holiday at all. They obvious enjoy and celebrate the holiday if they want to change Merry Christmas to just Happy Holidays. What in the world is going on?

I asked my child tonight what the true meaning of Christmas was and he told me it the seasons for giving and not receiving. I proudly smiled at him and asked him why we celebrate Christmas. He gave me that nine-year old duh look and replied in a matter of fact tone, mom, Christmas is Jesus birthday. I gave him a hug and told him he was correct.

Of course, I know he is excited about opening his gifts under the tree, as any child should be. But, this child knows why we do celebrate Christmas. I can also count my blessing for that. Its a shame when you walk into a store a day after Halloween and see Christmas stuff all ready on the shelves. Christmas has become so commercialized that I think a lot of people forget the true meaning. Christmas means so much to me than receiving gifts. Its a time to be thankful for the many blessings in my life. Its a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that he has given us. Its a time to find that Christmas Spirit in our hearts and find peace and good will to all. Its a time to spend with families and celebrate.

I remember when I was a child. We did receive gifts, but the gifts were little in numbers and were very inexpensive. Christmas to us represented going to church and spending time with our family. It was a joyous time and we look so forward going to our grandparents house where the blessing was always said before we began our meal.

I dont know why Christmas is so hard for people to understand. My nine-year old child gets it, and so does many others. I told you about several special letters to Santa from children who obviously feel Christmas is much more than receiving a material objects but I purposely left one for last. Yes, there was a child that wished Jesus a happy birthday. This little one also asked for something, but he did not forget why we celebrate Christmas.

I am very blessed for many things in life. Im also blessed because Im here to wish you a very Merry Christmas!