I know it’s August, and that does seem a little early to be bringing up the subject of Christmas. However, I have two reasons for reviewing this book today. First, book retailers traditionally bring out their Christmas merchandise right around now, so for them, it’s not too early to be thinking about the holidays. Second, and this reason is much more pressing, I’m hoping to get you in the mood for Christmas a little early this year, and I’ll explain why after I tell you about this book.
Phil Porter has dressed up like Santa Claus for the last twelve years, and every year, something amazing happens. When he puts on that suit, he becomes Santa. His compassion seems to be multiplied. He knows what to say to people, how to answer their questions. He’s able to bring magic into the lives of those he serves, and yet, when he takes the suit off, he doesn’t know what to say to his own son, who doesn’t know that his dad is Santa, and doesn’t know why his dad is never home from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Phil doesn’t want to ruin the story of Santa for his son, but he’s also tired of missing out on the important events in his son’s life. All he knows is that he can’t give up his secret life – it brings him so much joy.
We see a little girl climb up on Santa’s lap and tell him that all she wants for Christmas is for her mother to stop hitting her. We see a boy, ragged and filthy, who wants a bed so he can stop sleeping on the dirty floor. We see a family who has just that day buried their three-year-old daughter, and their grief as they try to have a holiday without their precious child. We also see people with the desire to share, and the gifts they have prepared for those in need. In each case, Phil is able to touch lives as he portrays Santa to deliver the gifts, touch the hearts, and speak the words they each need to hear.
When I was growing up, my parents were anxious that I not forget about Christ during Christmas, and so we had no Santa in our home. We knew that our presents came from our parents, we had no Santa decorations, and that was fine with us, really. When I had my own children, I took a middle-of-the-road approach. My children know that Santa is just a game people play, but we have Santa decorations and I’m not opposed to singing a little “Rudolph” from time to time. Reading “Santa’s Secret” was a whole new experience for me. It’s a novel, but it’s based on the real experiences Phil has had while wearing that red suit. I was touched and amazed at the many times the Spirit spoke to him words that would bring comfort to those around him. He truly has been a tool in the Lord’s hands to reach out to those in need, guided to where he needs to be, doing the things he needs to do. He has led people to Christ by his actions, rather than away into a world of merchandise, as we often accuse Santa of doing. Phil is Santa done right.
I cried no fewer than ten times as I read this novel, feeling sorrow for the poverty-stricken situations some of these people found themselves in, but more often, my tears were those of joy as I saw good-hearted people reach out and share whatever they had to offer. I was left with a feeling of hope, a desire to serve my own neighbors, and the goal to start squirreling away whatever spare change I can come up with so that this next Christmas, I can be one of Santa’s helpers and give to someone in need.
And that’s what I’d like to encourage you to do, too. We’ve got four full months before Christmas, and I daresay most of us are in a position to set aside a little money here and there. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Lives are changed one small gift at a time. But I want to be a part of Santa’s Secret, which is serving others with the light of Christ. I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of this book. It will soften your heart, open your eyes, make you cry, and lift you up. And if it inspires you to pick up a toy or two for a child in need, so much the better.
(This book was published in 2008 by Bonneville Books.)
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