24 Dec Santa’s Cookies

I’ve always believed in Santa, even though my family doesn’t observe Christmas. A happy, older man, generous of spirit, giving back to the community was exactly who my Daada was so believing in Santa was not a stretch for my imagination.

Even after my childhood friends outgrew their faith, I held onto the spirit of the season, believing that Santa existed throughout the year in many forms- a dear friend who struggles financially but seeks homeless people and buys them coats for the winter, good samaritans who stop after a car crash to help the injured, the single parent trying to provide for his children, the former addict volunteering at the shelter, the educator putting in extra hours to tutor students, the police officer protecting our neighborhoods, the deployed military personnel, and the list is truly endless.

Tonight when our daughter asked if she could leave cookies for Santa and whether he would stop by even though we don’t celebrate Christmas, without a seconds hesitation, I responded gleefully, ‘Yes! He will love it and he will stop by!”

Later, after the children were nestled in bed, my husband says, “She doesn’t really believe in Santa, does she?”

“Never mind that. Keep believing. Keep dreaming. Keep hoping. Keep loving.”

“Why not? I believe in him. I believe in angels. I believe in magic.”

That’s what faith is- believing in something when everyone, everything around you says that it’s not logical, that it’s not factual, that it’s not plausible, but there’s something deep down that says, “Never mind that. Keep believing. Keep dreaming. Keep hoping. Keep loving.”

-Samita Syed-Needelman