Father Christmas

My dad died at the sweet old age of 94 earlier this year.  Not due to Covid.  He was worn out.  

This marks the first Christmas in my life where he hasn't been part of Christmas.  He was Santa Claus. He put the trains together.  He put the bikes together.  He was the young dad with the blinding camera lights as my brother and sister and I came into the living room to see what Santa had brought. 

In the last twenty years or so, I tried hard to make his Christmas bright for him.  I'd get to Atlanta as often as I could.  I'd send him presents and he was always so thankful.  Haggar pants.  LL Bean slippers.  Comfy sweatshirts and lounge pants.  

It now occurs to me that I'm the head of a family and the oldest person my grandkids will know.  Unless, I live as I hope to live till 125.  I want to see my great-grandkids.  

Pops, I miss you so.  

We figured it out with Mom not being here for the past twenty something years.  

But now that you're gone, holy crap.  I'm it. 

And I don't love it.  And, I love it.  

Age makes us all different.  Just like you and I talked, we both still feel like we're 18.  

To my kids, I hope you feel as loved by me as I felt loved by my dad.  Your PaPa.  

I plan on being Santa Claus until 2050 at least. 

To my grandkids, know that I love you and and and I'm so proud of everything you do.  

To my great grandkids, I hope you can read this back to me.  

To all of you, remember this.  Christmas is awesome.  The lights, the food, the times of gathering.  The presents.  

But, sweet kids.  Christmas signifies something much bigger and more important.  

Our God came to earth in the form of a baby.  He lived a normal life in Israel.  He did it somehow sinless.  

At age 30, he began his ministry.  No man has made an such an impact on the world as did Yeshua in those three years.  

As much as I love you all, I can't love you like Him.

Father Christmas is God and Christmas celebrates His coming to us as a human.  He lived a perfect life and paid for our sins on the Cross. 

In the meantime, I'll be Santa.  And, It's the greatest job on earth.  

Thanks, Pops for teaching me how.  

Merry Christmas.

Pops