Tuesday, December 16, 2008

I Believe in Magic

I can see the sparkles in their eyes. They are counting down the days. Even my 2.5 year old who really doesn't fully understand what Christmas is.

Think back to when you were a child. The anticipation, the magic, the determination to catch Santa in the act of leaving your Christmas presents. The joy of waking in the morning to a lit up tree with presents as far as the eye could see. Opening each one with enthusiasm, just hoping Santa remembered that one special item you wanted above all else. And the thrill when you realize that he didn't forget, that the letter you sent must have made it there for him to see. How else could he have known?

Is the thrill gone? Have we lost that joy we feel, the magic in the air?

No, I don't think we have. I just think we need a reminder. Sure, now we know the truth about who Santa really is, and how we are now him. We know that the gifts came from our parents hard earned paychecks and now, from ours. Reindeer might not really fly, but that doesn't mean the magic is all gone.

Now that I am a mother, with a family I adore above everything else, I live the magic every year. Sure, there was a time when Christmas was a hassle, making a shopping list, shopping for everyone, hoping you got something they would enjoy. Now it's different. I get to relive all the magic through the eyes of my children. I get to tell them all about Santa and his flying reindeer. We speculate on how Santa fits down the skinny chimney, and how he can get to all the houses and leave gifts without waking anyone.

Nothing is quite as enjoyable as letting them shop for Christmas presents. They get to pick out something special for someone special. And to see the thrill on their face when they find the "perfect" gift, it's priceless.

But most importantly, I get to see their faces glow when they see the magic of Christmas morning. As they open their gifts, as they jump up and down with excitement, and as they give you that "perfect" gift with as much excitement, it never fails to make me believe that the magic is real.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awwww. Great post!
I believe in magic too. :)

Kristie said...

I just can't wait till Christmas morning. Sometimes I think I enjoy it more even though I don't get any presents.