Santy Bliss

Wandering alone through the Dolphin Mall in Miami, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of sadness and aloneness (if that’s a word). The sound of Christmas carols filled the air and all the shoppers were hustling and bustling to buy the next greatest thing. Watching it all, I got the feeling that no one remembered the true meaning of Christmas that it wasn’t about buying the best presents or the most expensive presents, it was about giving from the heart.

My daddy grew up the third son of a widowed mother during the depression and there wasn’t much money for gifts or extras, but somehow my grandmother always made sure that somehow her boys had Christmas. My father was grown by the time that Eddy Arnold recorded the song “Will Santy Come to Shanty Town” in 1961, but that song always had a special meaning for him. He knew what it was like to be poor at Christmas and wonder if Santy would visit his house.
Because my father grew up poor, Christmas was important to him and he always made sure that my brother and I got the best presents he could buy us, even if it meant scrimping somewhere else. Growing up, I didn’t realize the sacrifices that went into making sure that we had presents under the tree and sometimes I took it for granted. However, as an adult I know how hard it is to make sure there are presents under the tree while you’re also making sure there’s a roof over your head and food on the table.
Wandering through that mall, I felt like my heart was breaking as I remembered the joy that Christmas had brought my father and knowing I’d never have Christmas with my daddy again. However, I realized that I still had my own family to enjoy Christmas with and I could make a difference in the lives of some of those poor little boys and girls who were wondering if Santy was coming to their house this year.
I headed to the bookstore and realized they were having a book drive for underprivileged kids and I realized this was a perfect way to honor my dad who fostered my love of reading and help kids who didn’t have as much as mine did. I bought a few books to donate and left the mall feeling as if my daddy was smiling down on me.

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Raine Shakti

Raine Shakti believes in living her life cairn by cairn and in helping others learn to do the same. Her day job is in the training and communications field and her best professional experiences are when she is able to empower people. She has spent the last few years reclaiming her life and her inner warrior. Part of this journey was becoming an ordained priestess with the Fellowship of Isis. Her Matron deities are Nephthys who has helped her become a true virgin woman, the Morrigan who has taught her what it means to be sovereign, and Yemaya who has taught her the strength in having a loving heart.

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