The White Horse That Never Was

I was really into horses when I was a kid. Model horses and stuffed horses were on my Christmas wish list every year. I loved to draw horses. And I was lucky enough to have my own pony. (that's another story for another time)

One Christmas, Santa brought me a HUGE (well, huge to me anyway) stuffed horse. She was brown with four white socks. She was laying down and made a great pillow to recline on. I loved that horse!! I named her Clarice (this was way before Silence of the Lambs, okay?).

The next Christmas, I was old enough that my belief in Santa was beginning to wane. I asked for a white standing-up stuffed horse that I had seen somewhere. When Christmas Day dawned, I was up before the sun. My usual habit was to get the flashlight and creep out to the Christmas tree to check out what Santa brought. Then I'd go wake up my sister, or try to anyway. She wasn't nearly as enthusiastic about Christmas anymore.

When I crept out to the Christmas tree with my flashlight that morning, I was full of hope and expectation. I knew that if Santa were real, I would have that white horse. But, there was no white horse. There was no horse at all!

Instead, there was a blue stuffed droopy dog with a note from "Santa." The note explained that he wasn't able to bring me a white horse like I asked because it would get dirty and would be hard to keep clean. Santa's handwriting was suspiciously similar to my mom's handwriting.

Not only did Santa not bring me what I wanted that year, but I also came to realize that my mom was "Santa." I was really disappointed. My belief in Santa was crushed.

Thankfully, my enthusiasm for Christmas did not wane. I began to learn and understand more about the true meaning of Christmas. That God sent His only Son to be a baby in a manger so that everyone could know Him and receive salvation.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

For more Flashback Friday about Christmas gifts that never came to be, visit BlogMommas.com.