“The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.”
-Francis P. Church
“Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest.
Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
-O. Henry
Sometimes the simpler things can give us valuable insight. Today people are at odds with their governments, parties squabble endlessly, and religious and cultural violence seems permanent. In the spirit of the holidays–whatever your faith if you have one and whatever your favorite celebration–the emotional pull of being better, kinder, forgiving, and thoughtful seems universal. In that spirit think about a newspaper editor’s simple response to a young reader and a very short story.
In 1897, an 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asked her father if Santa Claus really existed. He suggested she write to The New York Sun adding “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” She did just that and editor Francis P. Church’s front page reply has endured. “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. [Without Santa Claus] there would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, and no romance. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.”
O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” is the story of Jim and Della living in the 1900s and struggling to get by. Their love and devotion for one another defines their lives and their only material and emotional treasures beyond their shared love is her beautiful long hair and his gold pocket watch. After months of scrimping Della manages through sacrifice to buy Jim an elegant platinum fob chain “worthy of the watch.” Jim returns home as Della prepares chops for dinner. She presents this wonderful gift to Jim and explains that she sold her hair to buy the fob. “Dell,” he said, “let’s put our Christmas presents away and keep them a while. They’re too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on.”
The ideas of faith, imagination, and selfless love at this time of year rise above other considerations that can seem so important most of the year. Think about these things and enjoy this holiday season in whatever way you and your family and friends prefer. Think about continuing your holiday through the coming year with the faith and optimism of a young Virginia and the devotion and love of a Della or a Jim.
Happy Holidays!
