The health center I work at has a holiday celebration each year around Christmas and a spring celebration each year around Easter. For the past few years, I’ve Santa at the holiday celebration and I’ve learned a lot from it.

There are children that are afraid to see Santa. They break down in tears as they approach. There are some that are timid, hiding behind the person that brought them. Some are eager to see Santa and come and give me a big hug.

They are mostly kids that are referred to as ‘underserved’. They may not have a stable family. The only gift they receive may be the one they get at the holiday party. It took me a while before I learned how to be a good Santa.

As kids wait in line, I smile at them, wave, wink, and beckon them to come to me. As they approach I let them know that I am so glad they have come, that I have been waiting for them. I let them know that Santa loves them.

Often, I ask them what good things they have done recently for someone they love. Even if they focus on having been bad, I let them know they are loved.

I have seen caregivers wipe back tears as they realize there is still love in this world, even for the underserved.

All of these things came to mind this week as a kidney stone journeys through my system, causing great pain and as I spiritually journey to The Cross of Good Friday. They came to mind as I read headlines of yet another bombing, or a priest captured by terrorist being tortured, whom the terrorist are threatening to crucify on Friday. I think of these things as I listen to our political discourse, or read of a person who has overdosed or committed suicide.

Tuesday was the Spring Celebration. An AmeriCorps member dressed as the Easter Bunny, and I shared a YouTube video that I think helps get into the mindset for being Santa or the Easter Bunny.

Validation

To me, the ultimate validation comes from God, from a greater being, becoming human and saying that they love me, individually, by name, so much that even with my brokenness and being underserved, they are willing to suffer great suffering than I can imagine, even with my kidney stone, and to die.

At work, we have a holiday celebration and spring celebration because not everyone uses the same language to speak about a greater being, or even acknowledges a greater being. Online, I talk with friends that believe in Jesus, but more as a metaphor than a historical event. Some of my more conservative friends may get all hung up about what one must believe to be ‘saved’. To me, these things don’t really matter.

What matters is that a great being became like me and validated me, showing great love amidst great suffering. He smiles at us, waves, winks, and beckons us to approach. She tells us that she has been waiting for us and loves us.