this story originally appeared in the philippine daily inquirer on december 25, 2008.
DEAR SANTA,
I don’t want you to come to my house this Christmas, so please give yourself an early rest by striking my name off your list. I don’t care about the gift you thought I asked for; I don’t want it anymore. You can keep it. Better yet, give it to somebody else. The material gifts you bring don’t make me happy as much as they used to when I was a kid. Besides, I got my worldly wants all covered, thanks to an early gift I received in May (but no thanks to you).
Don’t worry about the gifts you reserved for my family. I also got those covered. This year, I will be their Santa Claus. It will be the first time I play you, so I hope I give justice to it. I promise to do my best. But I am sure we will be just fine. You can give the gifts you prepared for my loved ones to others. I assure you more people will be happy if you do that.
Don’t be mad. It is not that I don’t believe in you anymore. In fact, I still think you are that big guy in red and white with the cheerful “Ho-ho-ho!” preparing all sorts of gifts as Christmastime nears. How I wished to ride on your sleigh last night, with good old Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, leading the way around the world. The problem is, you make yourself so mysterious, almost to the point of nonexistence. That gets me (and a lot of other people) so confused. Are you even for real?
Don’t be sad. It is not that I am not grateful for all the things you have done and for all the dreams you made come true. I thank you with all my heart for these. You are very dedicated. I like that. Dedicated people deserve my friendship.
Having said that, you must know now that I consider you a friend. Let’s talk over a cup of coffee some time. My treat.
Santa, why do you do what you do? What do you get in return? And why do you leave Mrs. Claus all alone, out in the cold, on Christmas Eve? I think that is unkind of you to stay away from your loved ones on a night that is so special.
This Christmas I am away from my loved ones too because of my work. Thinking of it makes me sad. I wonder how you handle yourself when you go to work on Christmas Eve each year. Does staying away from home during the holiday season and giving without getting something in return make you happy?
I hope you are safe, Santa. More than your safety though, I wish that what you do makes you happy. I have many friends who are unhappy. I think they are stress by selfishness and by their unfortunate circumstances. I wish you could give them happiness instead of material gifts, which do not ensure long and lasting joy. Please make my wish come true for them.
I know God blesses all your efforts. I really love my friends. If only I could be Santa for them every day. But don’t worry, I don’t want to take your place.
Once again, let me tell you: Don’t visit me this Christmas. If I want a gift for myself, I would prefer to get it from someone I love. I know I love you in my mind, but it’s not the kind of love I give to people I spend the rest of my 365 ¼ days with during the year. I really wish gift-giving isn’t so materialistic this time. I want something from within, something someone dear to me has found especially for me. Do you get it?
I hope Jesus comes instead of you. Merry Christmas!