Spending an Afternoon as Mrs. Claus: Love begets Love

I decided to go all out this year.

So, there I was, late on “Black Friday,” scouring amazon.com for the perfect Mrs. Santa Claus outfit to wear for our annual Christmas Fun event here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Drawn, of course, to those “costumes” marked 50 percent off, I soon found just the one – dress, apron, wig, bonnet, and fake spectacles – the perfect ensemble to carry out my role as the greeter at the entrance to the event.

Extrovert though I am, I was somewhat nervous about donning this outfit on the big day and taking my assigned place.

The first child who threw his arms around my legs and hugged me put me at ease. That was followed almost immediately by the little one who motioned to be picked up so she could give me a proper hug.

The afternoon was filled with encounters like this – whether our teen volunteers interacted with the little ones or Santa himself lent an ear to receive a Christmas wish – there was freedom from fear and faces flush with expressions of joy.

Even the child who snatched Jesus out of the manger scene seemed to know that Jesus was meant to be embraced. Would that it be so for all our encounters.

As I headed home at the end of the day, I encountered Sister Mary Montgomery’s little gaggle of grandnieces and nephews. When they spotted me, one of them cried out “it’s Mrs. Claus!” What a perfect ending to the day.

I asked them about the activities they had participated in and whether they had visited Santa Claus. One of the children responded, “Do you love him?”

I was a bit stunned. Was he asking me in my role as Mrs. Claus? Or did he just want to know if a “grown-up” loved Santa Claus?

Later, I asked myself: How do I love whoever shows up? Am I embracing the people and circumstances of my life with the same joyful anticipation as these children? Am I attentive or distracted? How will I commemorate the incarnation – the great coming of God as one of us?

If we take this Christmas season seriously, there are consequences for how we should live. Spending an afternoon as Mrs. Claus helped me remember that love begets love. There is no better example of this than the life of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.

I did tell the little ones that I love Santa Claus. I wish I had said to them that I love Jesus, too. But perhaps during Christmas Fun at the Woods, I/we showed them what loving Santa Claus or Jesus means. I hope so. I pray that I/we will share that love the whole year through.

Merry Christmas from Mrs. Claus and from the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. May you experience blessings of love, peace and joy throughout this coming new year – and more than a few hugs!