Don't Tell Meredith Farris There's No Santa!

(Click here for a podcast of the interview)

I NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING IN SANTA CLAUS. Even as I grew older (and, according to all actuarial evidence, more likely to believe in the power of pensions, IRA's, and web-based investing than the Jolly Man in the Red Suit), I still maintained a love of the Christmas season -- especially the mystique of St. Nick. So when I heard about Meredith Farris's childhood Christmas story, I jumped at the chance to interview her about it.

Meredith, you see, came from an extremely poor family in the Northeast corner of Arkansas. In fact, things were so tight one Christmas way back in the early 60s that it looked like Santa wouldn't be visiting that year. Young Meredith -- she was about 5 at the time -- would have to make do for another year. A heartbreaking prospect for any child, to say the least, but especially for a little girl full of innocent faith

What makes this story so special is a couple of things. First, I work with Meredith at Hope Church here in Tupelo, Mississippi. She's an integral part of the church staff -- a caring, compassionate, talented woman with a big heart, bigger smile, and beautiful voice (that was her singing "Blue Christmas" last week) -- who makes sure things get done in fine style and on time. Without her, things just wouldn't be the same.

Secondly -- and I didn't know any of this until recently -- it turns out that Santa DID visit her home that year so long ago -- in a memorable way. In fact, Kris Kringle's visit to Meredith's Arkansas home left her with a memory so vivid that it lights up her eyes even now. Half a century after it happened, this true story not only became the stuff of family legend, but it seems to have shaped her entire view of the world. This kind of Love, Meredith says -- a Santa Claus spirit brought to life by the love of her family -- is what makes Christmas such an extraordinary time of the year.

Don't tell Meredith Farris there's no Santa Claus. She knows better. And she explained why on DeltaTalk Radio, Wednesday morning, December 12, 2010. Enjoy!

Click here to go to a podcast of the interview

Ho-Ho-Ho!