God is Better Than Santa

While Kathy Ireland says she doesn’t believe in Father Christmas, her childish wonderment is rekindled as she experiences her heavenly Father’s gifts.

There she was—my Chatty Cathy Baby Doll! Even in the dim light streaming from the open bathroom doorway, I could see her sitting atop all of the other gifts around the Christmas tree. The light made her blonde hair glisten and her crystal-blue eyes sparkle. Her chubby little arms seemed to beg me to hold her, and I cried out in joy. My heart was filled with childhood wonderment; “There is a Santa Claus!”

Years have gone by since that perfect Christmas morning. I no longer believe in the man who lives up North, nor wait for him to bring me what I want most. But somehow that childish wonderment is rekindled every day as I experience my heavenly Father loving me in life, and in the lives of those who touch mine.

In 1992, my best friend’s two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, a life-threatening cancer. Diagnosed at an advanced stage, the prognosis wasn’t good. I was there when the minister prayed over her once energetic body.

God placed people in our path during this time who gave us hope. As it happened, I met a woman whose friend’s child had recovered from the same illness. I was happy I could take this story to my friend and give her hope. We offered intercessory prayer for the little girl, asking God to make her well—and He did!

In 1996, my friends lost their business due to an economic recession. They had been successful and lived a prestigious lifestyle. Almost overnight, they were penniless and had to move into a rental home, barely able to make ends meet.

Yet, miraculously, a chance meeting with a perfect stranger who presented a business proposition gave them the opportunity to gain back all they’d lost.

In 1998, my father died. Strange, that such a sad event could bring so much happiness. All my life I’d longed for my father’s affection. Even though he was always there, I’d felt abandoned and alone. Then, right on the threshold of death, he finally summoned the courage to reach out and tell all of us that he loved us.

The reality was that he’d loved us his whole life, but was timid in his expression, so we never knew. In death, he became the dad I had always wanted.

In 1999, my marriage of 21 years ended. I thought the wind of life had been knocked out of me. I wondered how I would ever do anything for God as a divorced woman. Just prior to this, I had been active in a women’s ministry, speaking across the United States and presenting in the Philippines.

Then, one night I realised what I’d been trying to avoid was inevitable. My marriage could not be salvaged. That very evening, a woman who had attended one of my seminars called to ask if she could talk. We talked for a very long time and then prayed together. In that dark moment, God demonstrated to me that He still had a plan and a purpose for my life.

In 2000, my daughter Alanna and one of her girlfriends decided they would go on a humanitarian–charity trip to Nicaragua. They ran an aggressive fundraising campaign that gave them the resources for the trip. Then, after choosing their work location, my daughter’s friend chose a different site without telling her. My daughter was devastated and very much afraid. She was only 15 at the time and hadn’t done much travelling.

Then, on the night before the trip, while at a friend’s place, we met another girl who was making the same trip. Within seconds, Alanna found that they were both going to the same location. They have since become the best of friends.

In 2002 I lost my job and had to return to Canada after living in the US for almost eight years. The telecommunication company where I worked laid off 130 people and my department was closed. My son, Adriel, had wanted to complete his high school years in Oshawa, Ontario, so I planted our family there, hoping that God would provide a job once I arrived. I was not disappointed!
God, often seemingly, has other plans.

Through the events that happen in life, we come to realise how silly we can be, how fragile we are, how blessed we are and, hopefully, what is important. God has a unique way of giving that which is always good for us, even when we don’t want it or understand it at the time. The world is a safe place only when we have Him in our lives.

God waits patiently for the day when He will take us home to be with Him forever. My mind is filled with happy imaginings about the marvels of heaven, and my childhood heart leaps with Christmastime wonderment having found that God is far better than Santa Claus!

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