Kelly Moss
By Ashley Andrews, 700 Club Interactive
CBN.com –THE SANTA DILEMA
It's an issue that all children encounter, and a question that every parent anticipates - "Is Santa Claus real?" The question itself isn't a complicated one. But the answer tends to stump most parents. Kelly Moss, writer, entrepreneur, wife and mother of three children (now young adults), knows all to well how these "perplexed" moms and dads feel.
"The question of Santa, 'Is he real?', is a very tough question for most parents," Kelly shared. After all, parents have to consider their child's reaction and even their emotional stability. "Do you tell your son or daughter the 'truth' or do you fudge a little to keep the tradition? How do you explain Santa without disappointing the child you love? And, on top of that, how do emphasize Santa without taking away from the real story of Christmas, the birth of Jesus?" For Kelly and her husband Joe, the question came when their oldest Jonathan was only six. Jonathan is naturally inquisitive and, unfortunately for Kelly and her husband, had already started questioning things no six year old should be asking. "Joe and I knew it was a matter of time before he asked, Is Santa Real?" And sure enough, they were right.
As Kelly remembered, it was Christmas. "We were at my mother in-law's house standing in her kitchen when my six year old blurted out, “Mom is Santa real?” Instantly, Kelly went into panic mode. "What do I do? What do I say? Should I tell him the truth? Will he hate me? Will he lose faith in everything?" She knew that whatever she told him he would believe, and that he would defend it simply because "his mommy told him so." Now, nearly fifteen years later, she realizes just how dramatic she was being, but back then, Kelly was just as confused as her six-year-old. She couldn't stand the thought of disappointing him. She was just plain scared, and it must have showed.
As Kelly struggled to find the right words, Bertie, her mother-in-law, stepped in. "It was God sent," Kelly shared. Bertie asked him, "Are you sure you want to know?" Jonathan responded with a big "Yes, Grandma! I want to know the truth." And so, she told him the truth - that there is a Santa; that the first "Santa" was a Christian named St. Nicholas; that anyone and everyone can be a "Santa," someone who gives freely; that being a "Santa" means that you are part of the secret "Santa Club"; and that Jesus is the ultimate gift. Open-mouthed and utterly amazed, Kelly watched as Bertie explained to her son the truth about Santa Claus. It was so simple, yet so true.
"That night," she described, "Jonathan stayed up and helped me with his younger brother Jameson’s presents. He went to bed very proud that he now was a member of 'The Santa Club.'" Then, one year later, when his brother Jameson posed the "Santa" question, Jonathan shared with him the same story that his Grandmother told him the Christmas before. And thus a new family tradition began - "The Gift of Giving." Over time, the tradition became an everyday habit, and it promises to be a family custom passed down through the generations.
SECRETS OF "THE SANTA CLUB"
Inspired by her late mother-in-law, Kelly took the "Santa Club" story and made it a book accessible to all apprehensive parents. Within her book aptly named The Santa Club, Kelly answers the dreaded question, providing parents with a stress-free solution and supplying kids with a simple yet ever-true answer. There are a few conditions though, which Kelly outlines in the beginning of her book, that must be met before a child can read the book. First, the child must ask - "Is there a Santa Claus?" or "Is Santa Claus real?" Second, the child must promise to read the story with a parent or guardian and to not tell another child about the book or give out the answers to the questions unless another parent says that it is okay. If those conditions are met, then, and only then, are children ready to hear the truth about Santa. And just like Bertie, Kelly answers the Santa question with the same emphatic "Yes!"
"Santa Claus is real," she explains. "To tell the truth, there are millions of Santa Clauses all over the world. Some are parents. Some are grandparents. And some are people who just love to give." But, "All of these Santas belong to a special group. It is a club so special that until recently they didn't even know that they belonged. They all belong to a club called 'The Santa Club'...All over the world," she continues, "and for many, many years, people have been giving gifts as Santa Claus. The first Santa Claus was St. Nicholas. He was very kind and jolly and looked a little like Santa with the red suit. St. Nicholas was a follower of a man named Jesus Christ..." From there, Kelly describes Jesus as "the Son of God" and "God's gift to us." She writes that "Jesus gave himself for us because he loved us so much." And that Christmas is a celebration of his birthday and that is why we give gifts.
At the end of the book, Kelly extends an invitation, inviting any and all children to join "The Santa Club." Of course, she reminds each and every one of her readers to follow the conditions: 1) "Give the gift of giving, just like Jesus and St. Nicholas." 2) "Do not share the truth with any child until they are ready to hear it." 3) "Always answer yes to the 'Santa' question." And 4) "Enjoy Christmas and celebrate it joyfully."
THE GIFT OF GIVING
Along with the book, Kelly also began "The Santa Club" charity. "The goal of The Santa Club is to help new members find a local charity that needs help during Christmas and beyond. We want helping charities to be easy for you and lots of fun," she shared. "As time goes on we would love to list any local charities that are in need of help with things like, a coat drive, food drive, volunteers to serve, and so on. As a new member this should be a place where you can, as a family or as an individual, find a charity that fits you. Find one that feels right for your family and give as little or as much as you can. Every little bit helps and as a new member we know just how excited you are to share the gift of giving." With that, Kelly encourages everyone to send them a link to a family in need or a charity. They will then post the info under the state that the charity is in, giving Santas everywhere a chance to give to anyone, anywhere, anytime.