thanks you notes for Jesus

Lucido paused from putting tinsel on the big tree in the center of the workshop to watch as other people put together a life size manger scene. It was a shame that so many humans were forgetting what Christmas was supposed to be about. It was a shame that children were becomming more greedy by the year, demanding more and more toys, and not being thankful for them. "Such a shame." Lucido said shaking his head and going back to his job.1

Meanwhile, in the main office Santa Claus and Noel the head elf were deep in discussion. "We can't let them push us out of Christmas, nor can we let them push out Jesus. We need to find a way to have a healthy balance of the two." Santa was saying as he paced nervously arround his office. 2

Noel just nodded sadly. If Santa was pushed out of Christmas than all the elves would loose their jobs and they would have to go back to making shoes and housekeeping. But if Jesus was pushed out of the picture than the elves would be no more than slaves, forced to make toys for greedy children who thought nothing of gratitude or love, but who thought all about jealousy, greed, and nastyness twards other children. No one wanted that eather.3

"we could, no, that won't do... how about, naa...hmmm..." Santa mumbeled. Noel gazed at a snow globe of a church on Santa's desk. "I've got it!" Noel cried jumping to his feet.4

What, what is it?" Santa askes excitedly.5

"All we have to do is get the children to see that it is thanks to Jesus that you deliver toys right?"6

"Right, right, go on." Santa prompted.7

"So, we make it a requirement that all the children have to write thank you notes to Jesus thanking him for their gifts. Any children who don't do this are put on the naughty list." Noel suggested, his eyes lighting up like stars.8

"hmmmmm, I don't know Noel, not a lot of people believe in Jesus and they might not think it fair..." Santa cautioned.9

"But Christmas is a christian holiday isn't it? So if other people want to celebrate it they should abide by Christian morals, right?" Noel argued.10

"true, true.... well, we'll see." Santa said.11

Just than the phone rang and Santa sat down at his desk to answer it. Noel sliped quietly out of the office and ran off to tell his idea to his fellow elves to see what they thought.12

"That will never work."13

"No one will go for that!"14

"What a dumb idea."15

"We have enough work to do without reading a billion thank you notes too!"16

"Who's dumb idea was this anyways?"17

Noel was crushed. "But it will remind people what Christmas is really about, without makingus us loose our jobs!" He argued to the moody crowd. No one was listening to him any more though, they were all complaining about the idea. "Well Santa and I both think it will work, so that is what we are going to do!" Noel shouted over the noise. "Ok, back to work, we only have five hours left 'till christmas eve, back to work!" Santa's voice boomed from behind the crowd. Everyone left still muttering about the idea.18

Santa and Noel looked at each other nervously. If the elves didn't like it, how were the humans going to take to the idea?19

***20

The day after Christmas the elves were more busy than they had ever been. Hundreds of thousands of nasty letters were pouring through the post office, all of them full of complaints from parents who didn't think Santa had a right to interfere with their religious decisions. Noel had set up teams to read the letters, and Santa was no where to be found, which wasn't suprising, after Christmas he always went to visit realatives, leaving the elves to have their vacation time. But vacation was far from everyone's mind as the letters poured in. "Noel, peopel are threatening to boycot Christmas, others are threatening to never go to church again, still others are insisting that we appologise to their kids and put them on the nice list. What do we do?!" Lucido asked, practically hysterical. Noel shook his head, he had no idea his plan would cause so much trouble, but he was determined to stick by it, so he had the naughty/nice list started up.21

When Santa appeared a week later the elves were at their wits end. There had been news reports all over the world saying that Chritmas might be canceled if such a thing continued, and the elves were at a loss as to what to do. When the elves showed some of these news clips to Santa they were shocked to hear him laugh. "That is no problem, they can't cancel Christmas, all they can do is try to threaten us." Santa explained. "But Sir, people have been threatening to ignore Christmas out of principal." Noel pointed out franctcally. "Let me handle it." Santa declaired.22

Two days later a news report came on througout the world.23

"We're here with Santa himself to hear what he has to say about the whole Jesus issue. Santa, what was the plan with bringing Jesus into the picture?"24

"I brought Jesus into the picture because HE is the reason children get presents. Where do you think I get all my material from? Where do you think the elves came from? None of it would be possible without Jesus. If you don't want him in the pciture than you don't want me. End of story." With that Santa got into his sleigh and flew away.25

The world was in shock. Those who didn't believe in Jesus didn't know what to say. Those who DID believe in Jesus were thrilled. The elves were waiting, afraid they were going to loose their jobs.26

Santa had the elves continue on as if everything was going to be ok. They made toys, and checked the naughty/nice list, they baked cookies and fruit cakes, they did everything that they usually did. But none of them, not even Noel knew what the future held for them.27

To the elves great suprise every child wrote a thank you letter to jesus that year. Some went behind their parent's backs to do so, but all the letters were in by Christmas eve. So every child thought about Jesus that year, and what the season was really about.28

Every year after that the same thing happened, every child wrote a thank you note to Jesus, and Jesus was very pleased to recieve them, and so Christmas was saved, thanks to an elf who stood by his idea.