The Rural Voice, 2001-12, Page 31the car. I turned around, thinking he
was faking, but my usually
sophisticated nine year old was
crying. "Why did you tell me?" he
sobbed, "I'm only nine!" And the
tears rolled down his soft cheeks.
I twisted around in my safety belt
and reclined my seat so I could be
near to him. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I
thought you knew," I murmured
between hugs and kisses. I told him
all about the Santa in our hearts and
the fun adults get pretending.
"But you lied to me!" wailed my
son.
"Yes, and now you are on the
other side of that lie, the grownup
side, you have to lie to other children,
so you don't make them cry." I
stumbled over this one, and my
husband tried to explain the
difference between lying and lying.
Hmmm.
We talked about the Salvation
Army, the Angel Tree gifts
and the soup kitchens
serving Christmas dinners to
homeless people. We talked about the
church Christmas hampers to needy
families, the real Saint Nicholas (he
was a bishop, wasn't he?), and the
wonderful music, food, hugs, kisses
and love of the Christmas season. I
explained about the people at Canada
Post who answer letters to Santa from
children all around the world. And
we talked about the miracle of baby
Jesus and God's love for His world.
We finally pulled into our
favourite fast food chicken place in
Ottawa, and as my husband hopped
out to get our dinner, David and I
called my in-laws to say we were
safely home. "Grandma, I know
about Santa Claus," my son proudly
announced on our cell phone. "Thank
you for finding me my T -rex when I
was four." I had searched everywhere
for that dinosaur. My mother-in-law
had finally found one, roar and all, in
Exeter.
Later that night, after chicken and
a taped sci-fi TV show with our feet
up, I put a sleepy David to bed. He
fell asleep, comfortably holding my
hand. As I softly sang "Silent Night",
I realized that we adults had travelled
eight hours that day, but our sweet
son had made a journey of several
years.
Sleep in Heavenly peace, sleep in
Heavenly peace.0
Staying in touch
over the holidays.
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toti':,.7":: li
We can't always be together
at this time. Bet we still
find a way to offer best
wishes to the most
important people in our
lives.
Peace on earth and the best of the season from the
people of Formosa Insurance.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
formosa
SURANCE
YOUR MUTUAL CHOICE
For the Broker nearest you call 1-800-265-3020
or see us On -Line at www.formosamutual.com
DECEMBER 2001 27