5 Stages Of Christmas Poem by Jim Yerman

It's funny as I've gotten older…as my book of life has added a few more pages I have come to realize that Christmas is made up of five distinctive stages.

Today I can sit back and smile…when I take the time to pause…
knowing, for me, those five stages have revolved around Santa Claus.

During the first stage I was so young it was easy to believe how Santa Claus could drive a sleigh and bring me present on Christmas Eve.

In the second stage I'd grown up a little…and thinking I was wiser than before I figured I was too old to believe in Santa anymore.

In the third stage I was older still…and was happy to hear my wife's and children's applause when I put on that big red suit…and I played Santa Claus.

In the fourth stage I was older yet…my white hair and beard made children pause…
They'd smile, point…they'd wave and say, "look Mommy I think that's Santa Claus".

I'm now in the final stage of Christmas where I smile every time I see a Christmas decoration or hear a Christmas song because I realize not only do I still believe in Santa Claus…but I believed in him all along.

What makes this such a wonderful stage…is realizing Christmas is more than Santa Claus or songs or the different gifts we are receiving…
that Christmas is…
that Christmas was…
that Christmas all always be…
In the magic of believing.