Now, back to the story…You may read this thing and walk away wondering what in the world is Clifford talking about, but I need to protect some people. You may or may not agree with the way I handled this situation, but it was my way and at the time I felt good about the way I handled it. I still do and I stand by my actions.

Once again I need to talk in code to protect the innocent, so you may have to put on your thinking cap.

I was asked a few days ago by the niece of my only son a deep, deep question. The question was, “Is the Bishop of Myra a real person or is he a spirit?” Okay, now I warned you. (Think deeply. How is the niece of my only son related to me? Who is the Bishop of Myra?)

I had to ponder that question for a few short seconds because I knew this person was asking me a serious question. I also knew that being the relative that I am, this person was looking to me for answers as this person is becoming an age when these questions will get harder and harder to answer. I thought and thought and here was my answer.

“Yes, The Bishop of Myra a.k.a. …….is, in fact, a real person. He is not a spirit, but the effects this Bishop has on people causes a certain spirit to be active in people this time of year, so he creates a spiritual atmosphere, but is not an actual spirit. The reason we really celebrate the season, however, is because Jesus was born and we actually celebrate the birth of Jesus and The Bishop was and still is a real man. He is real and he creates a fun, gift giving spirit in everyone.”

I saw the wheels turning in this person’s mind. I could tell the answer I gave was just confusing enough to last me for this year, but I think next year things will change.

Well, little did I know that a short time earlier the same question had been asked to the Woman of my Life, the Apple of my Eye. This lady was able to sidestep the question by saying “I don’t know that much about The Bishop, but I can tell you God is real.” Since she got the question first, her answer was able to suffice until the young person got alone with me. Then the question was asked a second time.

Some people get upset when adults talk to children about such things. Christmas, Easter and a lot of other holidays have their secular heroes and I have never met anybody who was made into a heathen by believing in such things. Some people claim the adults are lying to their kids. Well, I don’t take it that way. I simply see it as a way of letting kids be kids and growing up at a somewhat slower pace than the world wants them to.

I don’t see telling the kids these stories any worse than trying to tell them the shot they are about to get “won’t hurt a bit.” Bull corn! A shot does too hurt, so why try to tell them it doesn’t?! You tell them these things to simply ease the pain and keep them in their childhood as long as you can.

All in all I think I handled the issue very well. Easter is on the way after Christmas, so I am sure that the whole thing will be out of the bag real soon, but right now this person is still an innocent little child.

I enjoy this time of year. People enjoy fussing about the crowds, but we all still get in there every year and shop with the best of ‘em. Too many people, too much traffic, too little time and not enough money, but year after year after year we all do the same thing.

We are never really satisfied with everything we did, always thinking we could have done better. But as a person ages the gifts all seem to change. Pretty soon we realize that all the money in the world cannot not buy such things as health, happiness and peace of mind. Believing in characters as a young child is a great thing. Buying gifts in our middle years is wonderful, but for me the best time of life is where I am right now. Enjoying many glorious pasts and looking forward to many future years as a man with a little more wisdom, a little more settled and a lot more understanding of what the holidays are really all about. Peace and Goodwill to all Mankind.

God bless everyone and remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Clifford

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