By Larry Stover
Stover lives in Valley Grande and is pastor at Praise Park Ministries Church of the Nazarene.

The spirit of Christmas is in the air. It’s time to find Santa Claus and let him know what is tops on our wish list. The hustle and bustle of the season fills the waking moments of nearly everyone I meet. The mad rush is on to find those illusive Christmas presents that will “make glad the hearts of children everywhere.” I’m sure that some industrious children around make their wish lists out in triplicate to help those of us who sometimes forget where we laid that precious bit of literary genius.

It’s Christmas. Somewhere along the way, many people have forgot that the season is not about getting and getting and getting; rather, its about learning to give, to make other people happy and sharing some time with people we know.

Over the centuries of time, Santa Claus has replaced the time honored tradition of St. Nicholas. In case you have forgotten who St. Nick was, let me refresh your mind.

St. Nick was born between AD 260 and AD 270 in the city of Pataran now in the country of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while he was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.

Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need and his love for children. The anniversary of his death on Dec. 6, AD 343, became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.

Today, especially in Germany, children still put their shoes out to receive coins in them, a tradition started by St. Nick himself. The 6th of December is still a day to receive either chocolate or coal, the beginnings of the “naughty or nice” list.  The Advent season is celebrated throughout the month of December. The focus is on the celebration of the birthday of the Savior of the world, Jesus the Christ.

The joy and excitement of Christmas has always been about the coming of the baby Jesus. The German celebration of Christmas is all about the incredible story of how God came in the flesh to reach out to a broken humanity with love and forgiveness. Jesus came to change lives 2000 years ago, and He is still doing that today if anyone will allow Him to do so. I would like to challenge my readers to resurrect the traditions of St. Nick this holiday season. He found ways to “assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.”

There are so many needs around us this Christmas. People seem to be in need more than at any other time of my adult life. I’m looking forward to going Christmas caroling this weekend. That and many other events this month will make my life “simply beautiful.”