At lunch with some friends, one of them remarked that after our time together that she was headed to Nordstroms to visit her neighbor who was playing “Santa.” I joked about how I needed to see Santa this year and she remarked, “It will cost you forty dollars.” My other friend and I said in unison, “Forty Dollars??” she then said, “I hear the Santa is cheaper at Arundel Mills Mall.”

I could stop right there. I was so tempted to travel to both malls to see the difference. Was Nordstrom Santa better looking? Wearing a higher quality costume? Was there a better higher quality photo at the end of the visit? Maybe it was the demographic. Arundel Mills is patronized by mostly Blacks and Hispanics.

When my daughter was five, I took her to see a Black Santa at the Cultural Arts Center in Wilmington Delaware. The following year, she went with friends on a Santa train ride where Santa was White. She then asked, “Why is one Santa Black and the other
White?” I explained that those were Santa’s helpers since he was very busy in the North Pole. Furthermore, the real Santa is magic!!

Whether you are bringing a forty-dollar bottle of port or a six pack to the party, what magic can you include this Christmas? What about a drama free holiday? What about the magic of hope? How about the magic of a quiet restful Christmas? We talked about this at staff meeting. What about reconnecting with the miracle of the season, Emmanuel? There is no price tag on getting closer to God. Since you ARE Santa, why not show as the best one you can be!

Friends, this year believe in the Magic of Christmas!

– Jackie