Dear Tom:
For years, I have used my daughter, Rebecca, as my excuse to not talk about the reality of Santa. When my youngest daughter, Kelley, started to have doubts about whether Santa was real or not, I would admonish her to keeps her doubts to herself because, “Rebecca still believes.” When my grandsons first tried to tell me that Santa didn’t exist, I pulled them aside and said they had to keep their suspicions to themselves. “Rebecca still believes,” I would say. Later I overheard Will telling his brother, Jake, to be careful because “Rebecca believes.” “We have to protect Rebecca” became everyone’s response to those who expressed disbelief about Santa to our family. In our reality if Rebecca believed we all could hold on to a little bit of belief ourselves.
Shakespeare beautifully describes Christmas, “ So hallowed and so gracious is the time.” At Christmas time, it is hard for any of us, not to believe in something. Peace on earth, good will to men, and a dream of innocence is good to hold on to even if only a dream. The mystery of being a child and the possibility of hope, not even shopping mall carols can drown out their music. For a while during Christmas, the darkness of disenchantment, cynicism, doubt, draw back a little, and all the “worldly witcheries” lose part of their charm. Maybe we can’t believe with all our hearts. But as long as the moments last, we can believe that this is of all things the thing most worth believing. And that may not be as far off as it sounds from what belief is.
Your friend, Webb
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