Sitting on Santa’s Lap

This was an article I wrote that was recently shared on Maureen Miller’s blog, Windows & Wallflowers. It was an honor to share this story about my siblings and me. I hope you enjoy just a little bit of my story. To read more, please check out my book, The Glider, available on Amazon.com.

“I remember vividly the day they took you away from me. It was the third time authorities removed us from a horrible situation and sent us to separate foster homes. As a five-year-old boy, I stood there feeling helpless as they loaded us in the cars and sped away down the long dirt road, never to return. Nighttime was the scariest for me. I cried myself to sleep many nights as I repeated your names in my mind, fearful I’d forget.” 

Those were the heartbreaking words my brother David said to me the day we were reunited. It was December 1990, when four adults were together again after more than thirty years of separation because of the abuse and neglect we endured as children.

My younger sister, Wanda, and I had been fortunate to be adopted together, sharing a wonderful childhood. Unfortunately, David and Martha were never candidates for adoption because the father refused to sign termination of parental rights.

Thus, the two grew up in foster care until they aged out of the system. After our adoption, and because Wanda and I were so young, the memory of an older brother and sister faded from our minds. 

Thankfully, Martha never forgot us, searching for her younger siblings for decades. We sisters were reunited in November of 1973, but it would be years before we’d meet our brother.

On that day, David ran to us, tears steaming down his face. He’d lived with misplaced guilt, believing our separation was his fault. We tried to assure him there was nothing he could have done. After all, he, too, had only been a child.

It was Christmastime, so we decided to spend our day together at a local mall. As we walked through the shopping center, arm in arm, looking at all the beautiful decorations and smiles on people’s faces, we spied a line of children awaiting their turn to sit on Santa’s lap. 

Looking at Martha, we both giggled, the same idea popping into our heads.

“You know, we never had the chance to sit on Santa’s lap as kids. Why don’t we do that today?” I laughed as we walked closer to the children anxiously waiting to meet the jolly ol’ man. 

“Yes, let’s do it!” Martha grinned. 

There we stood…

Four adults towering over the little ones in line.

As we gathered around Santa Claus, we told him our story. This Christmas was like no other. We were celebrating our first ever… together!

St. Nick chuckled aloud, just like Santa would do, and the camera captured the moment in time, one we would never forget.

God’s Word affirms.

We go through suffering so we can minister to and encourage others who also suffer. 

Father, may we be grateful for Your interventions in our lives when we see Your hand at work assuring us that, even though we may suffer through difficult circumstances we cannot control, You promise to use us to bring comfort to others. 

Amen.