Do You Believe in Santa? It's that time of year, and when there are small children in the house, there is always that worry of the dubious questioning of Santa...

Is he there at the North Pole all year?
How does he know where to go?
What about if we have a fire, won't he get burned because it's too hot? - My oldest did actually ask that one...

All these questions you know are leading to that final one of...
Is he real?

Well, is he?

Honestly, I do believe in Santa. Ok, I know he isn't a physical presence up at the ole North Pole, but I believe there is the concept of a kind person with a big heart who wants nothing more than to make children and their families smile. This person takes on many forms and can be in many places all at the same time. This person will be the first to willingly pay it forward without anticipating anything in return. This person will let another go ahead of them in line, or return a wallet safely and undisturbed to its rightful owner. Yes, the spend, spend, spend, buy, buy, buy, go above and beyond commercialism of it all does blur the concept of Santa's role in the holiday season, but there is no reason why the concept of Santa can't be shifted and simplified to fit the needs of what you want for your child. It doesn't have to be Elf on the Shelf if you don't want it. It doesn't need to be a pile of presents under the tree.

I know that not everyone is a full supporter of his presence in the realm of children, but I for one appreciate the concept of a person who wants nothing more than to make a child happy and feel special, or surprise a neighbor with a plate of homemade cookies, or put forth the effort to change a perfect stranger's day into something better with a random act of kindness.

I'm not dreading that question when it comes, which who knows, could come up this year. I feel ready to share the secret of how Santa works if my son wants to know. Kindness, compassion, generosity, joy, all attributes bestowed upon a large jolly fellow, have the potential to transform any person into a living, breathing...Santa. I believe that the moment any person takes the time to put in that little bit of extra effort for someone else, they become Santa in a way.
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