Yes, Harrison, There is a Santa Claus
In light of the fact that we'll soon be taking on the real task of raising young Harrison; in this season of Christmas, we're reminded of the True Story of Santa Claus...
As sure as Virgina O'Hanlon posed the question to the New York Sun in 1897; ultimately, the same question shall be forthcoming from young Harrison as to whether Jolly Old Saint Nick is real, or just a childhood fantasy; our answer is, may we quote the words of then NY Sun editor, Francis Pharcellus Church, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus", with address to Harrison instead.
HARRISON, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Harrison, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, HARRISON, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no HARRISONs. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, HARRISON, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Harrison.
Having learned the story of the life & times of Nicholas, the man; his long career of benevolence; and his association to the season of gift-giving; we, the parents, can only hope to fill the boots of Jolly Old Saint Nick at this time of the year, each year, to keep his spirit of gift-giving alive. In so doing, we also hope to help young Harrison in appreciating the true spirit of the season - God the Father's greatest gift of all to mankind - the Christ-Child Jesus was born on this special day, to begin His mission of Salvation for mankind -
Peace on Earth, and Good Will to Men. Amen.
Love,
Mom & Dad
Visitors to this blog are encouraged to leave a comment, as a mutual exchange of good cheers and blessings. If you have an adoption blog and wish to share, leave us an URL.
As sure as Virgina O'Hanlon posed the question to the New York Sun in 1897; ultimately, the same question shall be forthcoming from young Harrison as to whether Jolly Old Saint Nick is real, or just a childhood fantasy; our answer is, may we quote the words of then NY Sun editor, Francis Pharcellus Church, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus", with address to Harrison instead.
HARRISON, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Harrison, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, HARRISON, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no HARRISONs. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, HARRISON, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Harrison.
Having learned the story of the life & times of Nicholas, the man; his long career of benevolence; and his association to the season of gift-giving; we, the parents, can only hope to fill the boots of Jolly Old Saint Nick at this time of the year, each year, to keep his spirit of gift-giving alive. In so doing, we also hope to help young Harrison in appreciating the true spirit of the season - God the Father's greatest gift of all to mankind - the Christ-Child Jesus was born on this special day, to begin His mission of Salvation for mankind -
Peace on Earth, and Good Will to Men. Amen.
Love,
Mom & Dad
Visitors to this blog are encouraged to leave a comment, as a mutual exchange of good cheers and blessings. If you have an adoption blog and wish to share, leave us an URL.
posted by akwxACT2 at 7:26 AM
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