Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?."
Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the truth is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now. So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"
Brief pause: Son: "Yes, I want to know"
Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes there is a Santa Claus" Son: "Really?" Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand. The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea. Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years. I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn't thank me? Of course not! In fact it gave me great pleasure. You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement.
When I saw that Women collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance. I was being Santa Claus when I did that."
Son: "Oh."
Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"

Help each other this Christmas and...be kind ❤

It's a humbling experience to me, with tremendous responsibility to wear the regalia of St. Nick. I'm honored and blessed to do so. I go to VFWs and older folks places, as well as Hospitals now and then. It's been a great 20 years, and I hope to continue this. I can't describe the feeling to be part of this amazing history, and happiness I feel and smiles I see... If i think much, I do cry.

There is two stories that I have that makes tears roll on most eyes in the room if I read it:

This is one of those stories....

A Soldier's Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
And had to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, No Presents, Not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots full of sand.
On the wall hung pictures, of a distant land.

With Medals and Badges, Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought, came to mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a Soldier, Once I could see clearly.

The Soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor, In his one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured, A United States Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, The floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these Soldiers, who where willing to fight.

Soon around the world, children would play,
And grownups would celebrate, a bright Christmas day.

They enjoyed Freedom, each month of the year,
Because of these Soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder, how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve, In a land Far from home.

The very thought, brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Soldier awakened, and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for Freedom, I don't ask for more,
My life is my God, My Country, My Corps."

The Soldier rolled over, and soon drifted to sleep.
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, So silent and still
And we both shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night,
This Guardian of Honor, so willing to fight.

Then the Soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, "Carry on Santa. It's Christmas Day, All is Secure."

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
Merry Christmas my friend, And to all a good night.


Happy Holidays from VetFriends.com -
-- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard --

oh goodness gracious, darkowl, that really touched my heart

You should have put “Spoiler Alert!” in the title of this thread. I’m ruined now.

(Be kind on Christmas , and always.)

No kidding.
I am very upset.

It's really hard to read, seriously. I choke up a little every time.

It was written in 1986 by James M. Schmidt, who was a Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C.

Great. I get to be Ebenezer to this specious crap.


It's not your age. It's your ability to critically think.
What do you think, and why, son?


Truth isn't a gift.
It's a hard won prize you have to struggle to capture and keep alive.
Honesty is a gift.


So the kid isn't capable of figuring out whether or not Santa Claus exists by his own abilities.
But in a short conversation the kid is asked to make and be responsible for a life altering choice?
"hey dad, is big bird really a bird?"
"Here's a gun kid. You sure you are responsible enough for it?"
Kid pauses. "Of course dad!"
"Great. Let's go duck hunting."


Great. So the guy confesses to a lie.
Why should the kid actually believe what the dad tells him next?
And if the kid (unable to figure out whether or not Santa is real on his own) just believes that which his dad now tells him...kinda invalidates the idea that he isn't a kid anymore, or is mentally capable of actually taking responsibility for whatever "truth" bomb his dad hands him.

So is the moral of the story "really" just "hey kid, parents lie to you for their own emotional enjoyment. But you have to take what we say at face value when we decide you should. Don't question it! Don't think! Just come to me with your questions and I'll decide for you. I am trying to train you in how you should think, feel, and behave."


So the dad is equating material gifts w/ civic duty and compassion, giving a kid a transformer the same as saving someones life/not ignoring someone hurt?

Other than that, the dad is lying to the kid again.
There is no such thing as pure altruism.
The only thing the dad in this scenario is teaching the kid is how to conform to and perpetuate group moral standards. Again, all based on lying to "children."

The actual truth is altruism is "hardwired" into human biology (people are her/group creatures, what helps the herd helps the individual), we receive an emotional high from doing it.
You have the choice of doing it for that emotional high, or social credit to spend towards placement in the hierarchy.
Parents like to perpetuate fantasy's to manipulate their kids to give themselves a huge high and pocket some for social credit when they "confess" that there's really no santa claus.
Good luck kid.

This brought tears to my eyes. When my bigs were old enough this is what I told them. I now only have one little and she will not ask for a while yet. Let them be littles as long as you can. And be kind to one another every day of the year

Lets do this, Darkowl, both. I'm touched too. :)