It was his first Christmas program. Preschool at the church where he went every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They had practiced during school yesterday but he thought it was the Real Deal. Later at home, he was excited to go to school at night with his family.
Mr Last Guy On The Right was quite the performer last night. Jingle Bell Rock was my particular favorite. They rang their bells with much gusto - it was FABulous. Each class did a few numbers and the whole production was a joy for the audience. Miss Shelli and Miss Brandi did a wonderful job. We had conferenced in the ladies room before the performance and I got to weigh in on their costume choice - I chose the Santa hat over the elf hat - it just had their names written all over it. Little did I know that the program would end with Santa!
So after end of the program, Here comes Santa down the isle, Ho, Ho, Ho-ing all the way down to the stage. Most of the kids flocked to him but some like Gage, were not too sure. Gage is firm in declaring to all of us that it is not the REAL SANTA - rather it is someone's dad. He would know because he had his picture taken last weekend with the REAL SANTA, at the mall. He was ready to go. Miss Brandi told us to check out his letter to Santa on the way out. The letter was Pure Gage - I love this kid...
His mommy told him not to share his expert knowledge of Santa Claus too loud. When the kids are young, we start with the Story of Santa. A pretty unbelievable Story at that. Later on, we add the Story of the Easter Bunny. Again, a highly improbable tale of a bunny who doesn't have a sleigh or elves- to carry around all the goodies that they find in their Easter baskets. The Tooth Fairy story should be the scariest - this one comes in your room. There isn't a kid alive who shouldn't have been scared to death by a fairy with a hand, reaching under your pillow - money or not.
Then we tell them about Jesus... and as the realness of Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy come to life, " Oh, they were pretend - Jesus, the Story that makes no more sense than the others - He's Real." I don't know how we could make it better. I just pray that in the end, the Jesus that I know, makes Himself real to them. Some people have a hard time all their lives knowing real from pretend, I truly feel for them. Life is tough enough without believing in Something that isn't real. Putting all your proverbial eggs in the wrong basket. Life is real and pretending it isn't, makes it harder.
The church program is this Sunday. With one under his belt and hopefully, his brother by his side, Gage may get use to this performing stuff. As for real or pretend, its get no more real that this...
