Dan Short - The Santa Claus Chronicles: Heartwarming Tales from a Real-Life Santa

Table of Contents

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Cover design by Aesthetic Soup

Cover design elements Vasya Kobelev / Shutterstock

Cover photo by Loni Everett

Published in association with Books & Such Literary Management, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409-5370, www.booksandsuch.com.

The Santa Claus Chronicles

Copyright 2019 by Dan Short

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7689-3 (pbk)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7690-9 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Short, Dan, 1944- author. | Gutteridge, Rene, author.

Title: The Santa Claus chronicles / Dan Short with Rene Gutteridge.

Description: Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, [2019]

Identifiers: LCCN 2018061521 (print) | LCCN 2019008812 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736976909 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736976893 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Santa ClausAnecdotes. | ChristmasAnecdotes. | Short, Dan, 1944-

Classification: LCC GT4985 (ebook) | LCC GT4985 .S24 2019 (print) | DDC 394.2663dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018061521

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Contents

Dedicated with gratitiude for all my writing mentors

and the spirit of Santas the world over.

I dont remember exactly how old my kids were the first time I took them to see North Pole City Santa, but they were young. Cate was probably around two, which would have made John five. Id never taken them to see a mall Santa before, but that was only because I didnt want to mess with the crowds.

Somewhere along the way, though, probably from other moms I hung around with, I heard about this one very different SantaNorth Pole City Santa, as he was called. I knew about North Pole City. Converted from a former warehouse, it was a glorious and enchanting winter wonderland in Oklahoma City that sold everything you could ever want for Christmas. I trekked there yearly to see their Department 56 room, where they sold the Dickens Village collection. That was my favorite and the one I started collecting as a newlywed. They had it displayed so beautifully, and I would walk around it for a couple of hours, gazing at all the details.

Until he was brought to my attention, though, Id never noticed the Santa. I also heard he told the Christmas story from the Bible during certain designated story times, and so I was eager to take my kids to see him.

Be prepared for a wait, I was told, but I figured it wouldnt be too bad standing in the middle of a wonderland of all things Christmas. The first time we went, I made the visit a big deal. Each of the kids chose an ornament, and then I let them play in the elf houses before they had to wait patiently for their turn to see Santa. The way the room was set up, you couldnt see Santa until it was your time to meet him. But I could hear him. He certainly sounded the way Id imagined the Jolly Old Elf sounding a thousand times in my childhood dreams. His voice was a commanding yet gentle baritone.

When it was finally our turn, the helper elves removed the velvet cord to let us through, and I almost gasped at the sight in front of me. If ever a Santa embodied every part of who I thought Santa should be, it was North Pole City Santa! His eyes were even twinkling. I couldnt believe it. He reached out for the kids as he gave me a knowing, full-of-joy smile. Hello, John. Hello, Cate.

From that moment on I never missed a single year of taking John and Cate to see this Santa. The kids wouldnt have let me even if Id wanted to! Something about this guy was special.

Years went by. The kids grew up. John finally decided he was too old to visit Santa. Cate still wanted to go a couple more years, but then it was over. No more Santa trips.

Then one fall I was teaching at a writers conference in Oklahoma City. As I stood near the back of the room, watching the conferees check in and find their seats, Santa walked in.

Not just any Santa. North Pole City Santa!

He was at the table registering, and I couldnt stop staring.

Like a preteen at a Justin Bieber concert, I finally got up the nerve to approach him. I covertly shimmied up next to him and whispered, Are you the North Pole City Santa? He confirmed he was.

Dan and Rene

As we chatted throughout the conference, I got to know him some, and we began to forge a friendship that has lasted over the years. I was always so curious about what made this Santa special. Why did his eyes seem to truly twinkle? Why could he capture the hearts and minds of the tiniest of children and the oldest of patrons all at once?

As our friendship grew I learned his secret. Santa Dan doesnt just put on a costume. He doesnt just pick up an extra gig for some Christmas money. This man has chosen to embody what Old St. Nickthe saint from whom the legend was born, known to help the poor and give secret giftsstrove to do every day of his life.

Dan doesnt just minister to the impoverished. He lives with them. In their neighborhood. All year around. He doesnt just tell kids Jesus loves them while theyre on his lap, in his sleigh. He tells them at restaurants when theyre peeking over a booth, certain theyve been lucky enough to spot Santa eating a hamburger.

Santa Dan donates clothes to the Pine Pantry, which is run by the Sunnyside Diner. Sunnyside serves the needy in many ways, and Dan helps any way he can.

I believe this is why his eyes twinkle, his voice carries the wisdom of the ages, and his smile warms even the coldest of hearts. Oh, yes, hes a delight in the Christmas season, but hes a saint all year long.

When Dan told me he wanted to write this book, I assumed he would tell stories about what hed taught children over the years hed been Santa. But as we discussed it, I soon learned this book would contain far more than cute little Christmas tales. As much joy as Santa Dan brings to those he sees, he understands that hes the one whos been changed as hes watched God use him again and again to minister to, care for, and love all of His children.