As A Little Child: 2004

It was going to be a busy day for Mr. and Mrs. Santa. We had three parties to do in the evening. but the afternoon was ours to do what we wanted to do. We decided to start the ball rolling by going to the Old Country Buffet and see who was in need of some Christmas Spirit. Then we would get some lunch there. As we arrived we noticed that we were being silently watched. The staff was delighted we were there. They checked to make sure that it was OK to mingle with the customers. That was our custom. As we paid for our meal we noticed there were hardly any empty tables. Business was good today. Slowly, waving hands went up here and there. It soon became apparant that the place was more than half full of an excursion of mentally challenged people, there with their advisors.

And they were happy to see Mr. and Mrs. Santa. They asked questions. They felt our clothing. They gave hugs and there were big, big smiles. They sang to us. We were thrilled and spent over half an hour mingling with them, trying to make sure that no one was left out. Some were in wheel chairs. They were so handicapped. As time progressed the spirit in the room just got bigger and bigger. I started losing it when one young man was explaining to me about Santa's reindeer, Rudolph.

"He has antlers", he said. "And the antlers are different from the other reindeers. And he has a red nose, and that is different too." There was a pause between each sentence. Then after another long pause, he continued, "And the other reindeer made fun of him. That wasn't nice for them to do that."

Suddently I realized that the young man was talking about himself, and I said to him, "No, it isn't nice for anyone to make fun of anyone else." I had a hard time keeping the tears from fallling from that point on.
Mr. Claus was off visiting on his own and every once in awhile I looked over at him and it was like the window of time fell away and I saw a very young man in a room full of Down Syndrom children, looking at their pictures. It was the same, only now I was in the picture, too. I was not just one looking on. I loved looking at him, so handsome there, just like years ago.

As Santa moved towards me he bent down to talk to an elderly woman in a wheelchair. She was cradling a baby doll all dressed up in finery, in her arms. He gently took it and cared for it in his arms and fussed over it. She looked on, as a proud mama. I came over to look at her precious baby.

After the visiting seemed over, we got our food, but by the time we made it to a table it was cold. We didn't mind. It is very humbling to be in the presence of so many perfect people. And to have them sing for us. I would never again be able to hear the song I Wish You A Merry Christmas without thinking of them. We wanted to be there for every single one of them. The only table that was free was right in the path of people leaving, so we got to say good-bye to everyone who left. We had also made the rounds to people in the room at tables.

Later, while resting at home, my cousin came to visit and we found out that her daughter had been in that group. The scripture about how we need to become like little children kept coming to my mind. What would it have been like to be so valiant that you only needed a body and your mission was to try others and not be tried yourself. Our hearts were over flowing.

Mrs. Claus