Rebecca Still Believes

“Believing in Santa takes   a little faith. Being a Christian takes a lot of faith. Maybe that’s why   Jesus said we should be more like children.

Remember those times when   you or your children stopped believing in Santa. I certainly do. I don’t   remember the exact sequence of events, but I remember when Caroline started   to have doubts about Santa, I believe it was Walter who told her to keep her   doubts to herself. “Rebecca still believes,” and that was enough to keep us   all quiet about Santa. When Kelley came around, “Hush, Rebecca still   believes” was by then a permanent part of our family’s Christmas. It   continues to this day. When Will and Jake started to tell me about the “real   Santa”, I told them to be quiet and whisper – “Rebecca still   believes.”  The whole family shook their heads in agreement.

Funny thing, whenever the   phrase “Rebecca believes” was uttered Kelley, Kate, their cousins, Will,   Jake, down the line didn’t make fun of her belief. Instead she garnered   respect. “How cool,” was the reaction. It was as if her faith in Santa was   something they wished they shared. They wanted to believe too, and admired   someone who hadn’t lost her faith. It got each of them past those who want to   put a damper on Christmas and on to all of its magnificent joy.

Don’t you think that’s   why we read about the saints, admire people whose faith seems unshakeable,   and gravitate toward words, music, and ritual that enforce belief. There is a   part of each of us that wants to believe. No matter how many attacks of   logic, evidence to the contrary, and personal tragedies, we still have faith.   “Rebecca still believes” has come to mean more than Santa Claus to me. It   gets me past  my doubts, and on to joy that “believing” brings every day   of the year.  How cool.