Christmas is finally here. In the minds of children it has taken forever. For them the last few weeks have moved as slowly as butter in a new frigidaire.

This morning they discovered at least some of the items under the tree about which they wrote to Santa some weeks ago. I love children's letters to Santa and collect some of the more interesting ones. Several of my favorites are these: "Dear Santa, I tried to be good this year, but it just didn't work out." Sounds like a Methodist child. "Dear Santa, this girl in my class, Janie Martin, is bad. She likes to pick on boys. Don't bring her nothin'." Funny how our haloes don't sit exactly straight even at Christmas.

This morning let's step back from the Christmas presents, the family reunions, the feasting and merry-making long enough to ask a …