St. Nicholas and Giving in Secret
Many of our most beloved Christmas traditions revolve around giving in secret.
I like the idea of giving in secret.
It places emphasis on the Christian virtues of generosity, charity and love, rather than on recognition, ostentation and one-up-manship.
St. Nicholas – the model for Santa Claus – was the original secret giver.
St. Nicholas was the real Bishop of Patara, in what is now Turkey, during the third century AD.
During his most famous exploit, the saint dropped 3 bags of gold coins down a poor man’s chimney, so he could afford his daughter’s dowry without the humiliation of having to beg for money.
(Supposedly, one of the bags landed in the daughter’s sock that was drying over the embers in the fireplace, which is why we hang stockings today!)