Hope Is All We Need To See Santa Claus
By: Suraj Ghimire
Tags: Christmas, Life Lessons, Spirituality, Life, Hope

I thought Santa Claus doesn’t exist, but I was wrong. When I was a child, I recognized those faces in the church dressed in red with a hat and pretending to be Santa Claus. They would come during Christmas service to share chocolates, to make us happy. We would then whisper, “He is one of our church elders, not a Santa Claus.” As I grew, I thought Santa Claus is an illusion for happiness and nothing else.

“A child in the air still keeps smiling because of faith (full hope) that he will never fall”

A child in the air still keeps smiling because they believe that the person who threw them in the air will not let them fall. Clinical psychologists say that there are multiple benefits of letting a child play in the air. The reason behind the stressless moments must be hope.

2020 taught me about hope

I have been going through one of the toughest phases of my life. It seems nothing is going on my way, but this very same year, I have carried more hope than ever. One reason is, despite having just around 100 Euros in Bank in August, I have still managed to live a decent life, all thanks to waived tuition fees, unexpected food coupons, food bank donations, and unexpected financial aid from the university.

2020 has been tough for all. It might be even tougher for those students who had to pay tens of thousands of tuition fees in their universities. In her article “384 Ways to Help,” MacKenzie Scott quotes a poem by Emily Dickinson, which is also about hope.

“Hope’ is the thing with feathers,

That perches in the soul

And sings the song without the words

And never stops — at all” — Emily Dickinson

Her net-donation of $4.2 billion in 2020 has given hope to hundreds of organizations, including Vermont food bank, that received donations equivalent to an entire year of operating cost. Through her act, Mackenzie not only touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens who were living in the hope of food, but she also gave hope to the world about the ‘leaders’ we need in these situations.

The world hoped to get a corona vaccine, and few of them, including US president-elect Joe Biden, received a one in 2020 itself. The vaccine is a large need. Homeless hope for shelter and hunger hope for food is a basic need. People strangled in conflict zone hopes for peace while farmer hopes for the waiver of loan. An unemployed hope for a job, and a lonely one hopes for a companion. This hope should continue, and the same hope is a reason you and I live today.

Santa Claus exists

Santa Claus may not be wearing red dresses when they gift. They needn’t come only in December. They may be a stranger. Whoever and wherever they come, they come as an angel to needy souls. They may not reach all the needy, but whoever they reach, they bring happiness and joy.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

The researchers who are doing clinical trials are our modern-day Santa Claus. The philanthropists who send donations and those leaders who give us hope of development and good governance are our 21st century Santa Claus. All I need is a hope to see Santa Claus, and he/she can be seen anywhere. Santa Claus may produce no noise when he comes, but he/she will surely come.

You too can be a Santa Claus

This year, I received many messages from those who have extended their hands to support me; most of them were unexpected ones. I thanked them and politely told them I am good. In return, they told me they are open to help me anytime. They gave me hope. It struck me with a thought; if they can be a Santa Claus for me, I can also be a Santa Claus to those who need me. Yes, I can help them with whatever possible.

Today onwards, while you wait to see a Santa Claus in your life, you have an opportunity to be a Santa Claus for the surrounding people. You and I can be angels that people need. We don’t need to be a millionaire, but by sharing a little from what we have, we can give happiness to those people who need. Believe me, a small contribution of one dollar can give happiness to people.

And when they are happy, I am sure you too will be happy.

Let’s continue to carry hope to meet Santa Claus. Let’s continue to be a Santa Claus throughout the year.