Santa gives points for good intentions

Santa's sleigh is getting full. There are only a few more presents to pack before his round-the-world trip. I plan to be finished with my preparations by the time you read this. Santa can tuck in the last few gifts by himself.

Mrs. Santa (I) decided to go on a cooking spree the other day so that Santa would be well fed before his upcoming all-night shift. I made Frito pie; which is chili served over Fritos and covered with cheese. I made cookies for the cookie contest at work. (I lost.) Then I decided to make bread.

Making bread is one of the most satisfying stress relievers I can think of. I have made lots of bread in years past and really enjoy the process. One year I had my entire street mad at me because I had made cinnamon bread and shared it with all the neighborhood children. They had all gone home and demanded that their mothers make bread. After all, they reasoned, Diana works all day and makes her own bread, why can't their mothers do the same thing? They didn't realize that bread making only happened a few times a year.

Doesn't Raspberry Walnut Bread sound good? The photograph in the magazine was so pretty and appetizing. I should have known something would go wrong when the elves started giggling.

I followed the recipe, I really did. I mixed it. I let it rise. I punched it down. I rolled it out and covered it with jelly and rolled it up. Then I unrolled it when I realized I had forgotten the nuts. I added nuts. I rerolled it, braided it and slipped it into the oven. I cleaned the jelly off the counter where the jelly had puddled during the unrolling and rerolling.

When I took it out it of the oven it looked nothing like the picture in the magazine. The final product looked a lot like what would happen if an elf was to get caught in a meat grinder. My poor husband didn't know whether to kill it or to look for the rest of the body.

I had intended to bake a second loaf for Santa to deliver to far-away family but once I saw how awful it looked I knew that if the package were to be opened en route I would probably be arrested for shipping mangled body parts. At least the bread tastes good.

Life is like that. The best of intentions often come with completely unexpected results. I was merely intending to test a recipe; not manufacture something that looks like a prop that belongs on one of those murder shows.

Santa knows not to judge anyone or anything by appearance. The ugliest baked good can be quite delicious when fried in butter and the ugliest person is often the prettiest inside. Santa knows that good intentions count even if the end result isn't quite what was planned.

Perhaps that is why very, very few end up on the naughty list. Santa gives people the benefit of the doubt. Santa knows that children will get into things they shouldn't just because they are children. Santa knows that adults have melt-downs just like toddlers do. It happens. There is no such thing as a perfect person.

In this season of giving we should all give each other the benefit of the doubt. So what if someone gives you a gift you hate? Accept it graciously and pass it on to someone else. Give yourself a break. It is not the end of the world if you don't get every nook and cranny decorated or every present perfectly wrapped. Santa gives points for good intentions and will bring the present of joy to your heart if you will let him.

But first Santa has to stop at the Nativity and give thanks for the baby that is the reason for this outpouring of goodwill. The first thing Santa does each Christmas Eve is to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday. Then he can go on his rounds with complete confidence that any homemade bread that is truly ugly will taste just fine.

Merry Christmas to all of you.[[In-content Ad]]