After 20 consecutive years creating an annual ornament, I did not make one for 2020. Instead, I dedicate this space to “Cindy’s Santa’s”- her 12-piece Christmas project that spanned 26 years.
When our first child finally arrived in 1987, our ninth year of marriage, Cindy and I intended to bring many of our cherished childhood traditions into our own family. Santa Claus, however, was not one of them.
A few years earlier, we both underwent a transformation of sorts in our Christian faith that changed our perspective about life in general, including Christmas. We resolved that our family’s Christmas would focus on the far greater wonder of Jesus’ birth.
A way Cindy retained the magic of the season was by reading Bible-oriented Christmas stories to our children. Always on the lookout for good ones, “Santa’s Favorite Story” by Hisako Aoki and Ivan Gantshev; “The Greatest Gift of All” by Kimbery Rinehart; and, “Waldo, Tell Me About Christmas” by Hans Wilhelm were popular reads.
Cindy’s favorite was “Santa, Are You for Real?” by Harold Myra* about the “real” St. Nicholas who lived in the third century. Known for his dedicated faith in Christ and selfless service to others, Nicholas was appointed Bishop of Myra* in Asia Minor while still a young man. A story about him leaving gold coins in stockings or shoes to fund the dowries of three young women in his village gave rise to the legend of Santa Claus many years after his death in AD 343.
1st Santa, 1990
While gift-shop browsing during our family vacation in 1990, Cindy fell in love with a little figurine of Santa kneeling in prayer over the Christ child in the manger. The following summer, a Norman Rockwell inspired figurine entitled, “Santa’s Workshop” also struck a note with her. A third Santa that she found in 1992, was “bishop-looking” with a whimsical expression.
Cindy’s Santa collection grew to ten during our family-raising years from 1990 and 2004. Whereas in 1990, Adam was 4 and Laura 6 months old, by 2004 they were 18 and 15 respectively, on the cusp of high school graduation, then on to college and beyond.
Despite that she and I foraged for Santas together, I never did lock into her selection criteria. Like a little dog intent on pleasing his mistress, I brought many Santas for Cindy’s inspection but the only one that met her approval was one I found in 2008. So thrilled to find one she actually liked, I gifted it to her so I can forever claim a role (like I’m doing now).
Last Santa was a gift from Barb in 2016
The last Santa initially belonged to our friends, Ron and Barb, who in 2016 hosted a holiday gathering at their home. Each year, Barb transforms their house into a Christmas wonderland of stunning decorations, trees, lights and greenery. Two, large, luxuriously-robed Santa’s captivated Cindy. At our weekly men’s prayer meeting next morning, Ron gave me a gift bag to pass along to Cindy that contained one of those Santas.
As I decorated this year, I thought about that period after 2004 when Cindy’s Santa-collecting all but halted. Some pretty significant challenges arose during a 15 year span that we navigated with God’s guidance and the love and strength we drew from each other. However, Cindy’s unexpected death in April 2019 from leukemia left me torn from the “each other” component of us and pondering anew how God is guiding me through the balance of my life.
Cindy’s Santas that were prominently featured in our Christmas decorating during her life remain a fixture for me now. As I consider the collection as a whole, that my beloved’s selection criteria is as much a mystery as ever matters nothing. Rather, I tap into the inexpressible joy that was in the journey we shared together.
“Cindy’s (12) Santas, 1990 - 2016”
Notes:
While I did not create an ornament this year, I purchased a replica of Cindy’s first Santa kneeling over Jesus’ creche from EWTN’s Religious Catalogue. Actually a 2-inch tall figurine, I “converted” it into an ornament.
*Only a coincidence that the last name of the book’s author and the place St. Nicholas was appointed Bishop are both called Myra.
St. Nicholas’ feast day is December 6. For more about the patron saint of Santa Claus, click on: Who is St. Nicholas?
Two Santas were also gifted to Cindy in 1992 and 1994 by my sister, Cherie.
