Believe
The Polar Express
My 4-year old son loves watching The Polar Express. Actually, he’s been watching that movie since he was 3 years old. To be exact, I let him watch the movie on VCD in November last year (2008). Since then, he would ask me to let him watch the movie almost every day. This went on until around July this year. Now he watches it about twice a week. And after a year of watching the movie with him, I have memorized the lines and songs. He even watches the credits roll, since he likes the music that comes with it.
And miraculously, it took me one year to fully appreciate the movie’s message.
See, for years, I have dreaded Christmas. Not that super-over-acting dread. But simply put, Christmas just lost its magic. All I think about is how much money I’d be spending. The season has become a burden for me, I can say with all honesty. And I do not enjoy it anymore. Which makes me sad.
Recently, I discovered the real reason why whenever I hear Christmas songs, I feel sad, depressed and bitter all at the same time. Now I realize that I have been jaded for so long.
Seeing the Christmas season through a child’s eyes is indeed life changing. Yes, they like the gifts, the food, the decorations. But beyond that, they sense the joy, the reason for the feast. Lex has requested balloons, cake and candle blowing on Christmas, because as we explained to him, it is Jesus’ birthday. He tells me, “Mommy, a birthday party for Bro?” (he calls Jesus “Bro”, imitating Santino). His eyes light up with the idea of having a birthday party.
I guess having children is a blessing because you get to be a kid again. You recall how it was before, your kid reminds you of the simple joys and you realize you have lost focus on our dreams, of truly living life, and merely worked on surviving.
I no longer believe that Santa Claus goes around the world in his magic sleigh (I used to, my parents always have a way of making the gifts “appear” out of nowhere). But I do believe that the image of Santa Claus represents God’s unconditional love for us, and that his gifts represent hope. And that hope lies on the birth of our Bro.
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Children sleeping
Snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling
Like bells in the distance.
We were dreamers not so long ago
But one by one we all had to grow up.
When it seems the magic slipped away,
We find it all again on Christmas day…
Believe in what your heart is saying,
Hear the melody that’s playing.
There’s no time to waste,
There’s so much to celebrate.
Believe in what you feel inside,
And give your dreams the wings to fly.
You have everything you need,
If you just believe.
Trains move quickly to their journey’s end.
Destinations are where we begin again.
Ships go sailing far across the sea.
Trust in starlight, to get where they need to be.
When it seems that we have lost our way,
we find ourselves again on Christmas day…
Believe in what your heart is saying,
hear the melody that’s playing.
There’s no time to waste,
there’s so much to celebrate.
Believe in what you feel inside,
And give your dreams the wings to fly.
You have everything you need,
If you just believe.