True Meaning of Christmas

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I'm sharing an email I received this past week.

                            TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS 

 Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. 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 next to the fireplace.
 
 "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 berries represent 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 begotten son." Thanks be
to God for his unspeakable gift. 
 
 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."