Summary

The article discusses the author's tradition of writing letters from Santa to their child, emphasizing the importance of kindness and non-materialistic values, and shares a personal Christmas wish list focused on broader humanitarian concerns rather than personal desires.

Abstract

The author of the article reflects on a unique family tradition where, instead of writing to Santa, they pen letters from Santa to their child. This heartwarming practice celebrates the child's character strengths and acts of kindness, rather than material possessions. The author, who once wrote wish lists for Santa, now crafts a Christmas wish list that includes healing for the sick, compassion for the grieving, kindness for the lonely, and other altruistic desires, encouraging readers to consider a similar approach to the holiday season. The piece concludes with a call to action for fellow writers to continue the 'Christmas List Challenge'.

Opinions

The author believes that acknowledging a child's kindness is more important than focusing on the latest toys or trends.
Santa's letters are seen as a valuable tool to reinforce positive traits and life lessons in children.
The author values the act of giving over receiving, as evidenced by their Christmas wish list for others.
There is an underlying belief that personal growth and success will come with hard work and patience.
The author suggests that taking a moment to show compassion, acceptance, and gratitude can have a profound impact during the holiday season.
The author promotes the idea of carrying forward traditions that focus on

My Christmas Wish List

And a Message from Mr. Claus

While it’s been years since I’ve written a Christmas wish list or letter to Santa, I had the pleasure of writing letters for Santa for many years.

You didn’t know Santa used ghost writers?

When I was tagged by Jack Bohannan in a “X-mas Challenge” for Medium writers I was inspired to share my take on the challenge and considered the tradition of writing letters to Santa.

Letters from Santa

Like most children, my son loved the catalog of toys that arrived in November, but he was not the type of child interested in the newest, latest, greatest… He struggled to make a Christmas list every year.

Rather than pressing him to create a list and write a letter, I turned the tables on this tradition. I wrote a letter from Santa to my son.

I wanted him to know that his kindness and appreciation for people, not things, deserved acknowledgement.

And who better to hear it from than Santa?

From Mr. C…

On Christmas morning, not only would my son find a dish of cookie crumbs, an empty glass of milk, and a red sack of goodies from Santa, but he also found a letter from Mr. C himself.

Santa often wrote how proud he was of the little boy that was growing and changing. He wrote about his kindness toward others. Every year, Santa highlighted a trait that was evident throughout the previous year.

A lesson, an observation, something my son needed to hear.

After squeals of excitement from the sight of brightly wrapped packages, he would ask me to read Santa’s letter. This tradition continued for many years until he announced one day it was okay to not write Santa’s letter.

Sad to see this wonderful tradition end, I continued writing. This time the letter was a list of my observations included in his Christmas card which became the first thing he opened on Christmas morning.

This new tradition continues today, and I hope it is one that is carried forward to future generations.

If you’re a parent reading this and never considered authoring a Santa letter for your child, try it this year! I promise you won’t regret it and I think your children will love it too.

Note: I printed the letter using a scroll-like script and tied it to the Santa sack. Don’t forget to hide the file on your computer if your child is a computer whiz and likes to snoop.

The Gift of Giving

…Back to my Christmas list. Because I’ve always found more joy in giving than receiving, my list is a wish list for others.

Not because I have everything I need or want. Trust me, I want my business to grow and prosper and I want to create financial security for me and my family. I also wouldn’t mind replacing my 10-year-old vehicle, but I know in time, and with continued hard work, all my wants will be met.

In the meantime, I think Mr. C would approve of this wish list.

10 Things I Wish For This Christmas

1. Healing for those who are ill and suffering from invisible or unknown illnesses.

2. Compassion for those who are struggling after the loss of a loved one or the worsening of a health condition.

3. Kindness for those who are alone this holiday season. (If you’re hosting family or friends, invite that person to join your celebration.)

4. Acceptance for those with different beliefs. For a day, open your mind, put your feelings aside, and consider an alternative viewpoint.

5. Strength and resiliency for those struggling with illnesses, addiction, or homelessness.

6. Charity for those in need of a helping hand — a hot meal, a warm coat, a place to lay their head.

7. Gratitude for those you’ve taken for granted.

8. Forgiveness for those who didn’t know better.

9. Love for all who supported you when you needed it most.

10. Renewed faith for those who have lost hope.

That’s my list. It’s not the list I made when I was a child, but it’s the list that matters to me today.

And like Mr. C., I hope to bring a little happiness and magic to those who need it most.

I think Santa would approve.

To my fellow Medium writers, Chris Grant, Heidi Shaw, Tree Langdon, and Maggie Kelly, if you’re feeling inspired to keep the ‘Christmas List Challenge’ going …. tag, your turn! If you’re not inclined, no pressure! We’ll discuss it during our next coffee chat. :)