Why I Became Santa

Bill Brown is my Sunday school teacher. When I first met him, years ago, he resembled Kenny Rogers. Then one year, he let his beard grow. The rest is history now. Bill’s love for the Lord is evident in all he does, but it really shines when he wears his red suit and “becomes” Santa. Best of all, he shares how Saint Nicholas first distributed gifts to poor children and why. I asked him to share with you …

Why I became a Santa?

While I was stopped at a gas station close to Atlanta, a little man approached me and told me that I should be a Santa. I discounted the comment and really wondered why he made that observation since I had, at that time, a short grey beard.

Several years later, a friend called me to see if I would play Santa for a children’s party at church. For some reason, I said yes and bought a basic Santa outfit with fake beard. She wanted me to simply read the Christmas story from the Bible and talk to the kids.

I will never forget that happened.

I was a little nervous, but I did know that I took to children well and it would be ok. Seated in a big chair, the door opened and about twelve four year-old boys and girls came in. They ran toward me and yelled, “Santa, Santa.”

I had forgotten that children really believe in Santa. A seed was planted within me that day.

In 2007, when sales fell off in my business, I told my wife I not sure what is involved with being a Santa, but I had heard I could make some good money. I met a few other Santa’s and learned some important tips.

I learned about becoming Santa, when you put on that outfit. I learned you make children smile and have excitement about Christmas. Later, I learned how to share the real meaning of Christmas from Jesus and the point of view of the Bible.

I have had so much fun with children and adults, sharing with them in the Christmas season as Santa.

Santa Bill

Ane Mulligan

Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, she's worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), business manager, drama director and writer. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times fast). She's a humor columnist for ACFW's e-zine Afictionado and a syndicated blogger on Patch.com. V.P. and Senior Editor of the award-winning website, Novel Rocket, she's published dozens of plays and numerous articles and won several awards in contests for unpublished novels, including a three-time Genesis finalist. A past Board member of ACFW, she's mom, a grandmom, and resides in Suwanee, GA, with her artist husband and one very large dog.

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