Once upon a time

Dear Santa



Why do I always write to you and you never seem to reply. Last year, I wished for a car for Christmas and I didnt even get a toy car. The year before, I wished for a laptop but it only came last year. Dont tell me you got stuck in the chimney for a whole year because in Singapore we dont have chimneys. Dont tell me your sleigh ran out of gas because it runs on reindeer power. Dont tell me your elves dont have enough time to prepare, make and pack the gifts because you have more than enough elf-power for that. I am not going to write to you anymore. Hope you get so scared that all the kids dont write to you anymore that you piss in your suit. HMFPH!



Signed,

Disgruntled little kid.

*In case you intend to repent, you can redeem yourself by giving me a red hot Ferrari/Lamborhgini/Merc C-Class.*





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20 years later,



Dear God,



I know I havent been good all year and dont deserve anything, I turn away from all my bad habits, my violent behaviour and look to you for peace and love. I know as a kid, I used to demand alot from people that brought out a very vocal and bossy side of me. But now, as I set aside all those childish desires and material needs, I ask of you to bring peace and love to my family. I ask that you transform me from the inside out so that I can be a blessing to others. I pray for the current economic situation to turn around because I know I cannot do this alone. Even as times are bad, I would want to help others the way you helped me. More importantly, let your plan be manifested in my life, for me to be a fruitful and faithful servant for you, and through me, let many others around me be filled with the same joy and confidence you have placed within. Above all, you are Lord of all and I thank you for all that you have done, and will do in my life.



In Jesus' precious name,

Amen.



___________________________________________________________________



The above is purely fiction and does not represent actual incident that happened in the author's life. But the author who fabricated these 2 letters (rather 1 letter and 1 prayer), wants to drive home this message: As kids, we long to be concerned with me myself and I, rather than the people around us. We always cry when we need attention, do silly things that make our parents angry. Demand this, demand that at the toy store or supermarket. But 20 years later, there was a paradigm shift in mindset. There was this great experience that made you who you are today. And it wasnt on Christmas, neither was it Easter, but it was this one great gift exchange event on a Sunday morning in church, that you exchanged for something so much better than you ever expected. Better than winning lucky draw.



There on the throne was a "Santa" whose face was so bright that no one could see. The train of his robes were endless, and there was a funny man seated on His right. He was funny because He had two holes in each of his hands, and 2 holes in each of his feet. He was manning the counter, taking peoples gifts and giving them a new gift. It was a LONG queue but nevertheless you still thought you could "zhuan dao" (earn) from this gift exchange by bringing the lousiest gift, and hope to get the best gift out of the lot. One by one, people infront of you who walked out of the queue looked so happy, and you become discouraged when you saw that their gifts were really good, and theres nothing left for you.



When it was finally your turn, you put your lousiest gift in the world on the table and there was a brief pause. Awkward silence, and while you wanted to defend yourself and say "Why? Cannot ah?" The man at the counter laughed and said " I know whats the best gift for you." , leaving you stunned and speechless. Then He brought out a bright red heart and switched it with your very own. For a moment you thought He was a ghost out of Casper the friendly ghost, but nooooo. You felt real. You felt whole again and all that bitterness, disappointments disappeared.



Finally, in conclusion, the author wants you to catch is this: That this Christmas season, there may be tens, or hundreds, or thousands of people out there who have wrecked lives, who regret doing things that they did, and have never ever gotten out of it because they dont know how. They need to know that 'HEY! There's a QUEUE for FREEBIES' and they'll start queueing. People can queue ages for gift wrap at Takashimaya just to make their present look nice and presentable. But, His presents need no wrapping because He IS the perfect free gift for an imperfect life. What this world needs, is not a superhero who can make all things right. What this world needs, is for ordinary people like you and I to start moving and start sowing.

The heavenly superhero is omnipresent, others cant see him. Only you and I hold the key that will unlock and unveil.


And FINALLY, there will be "happily ever after"/\.