Children's eyes show the magic of Christmas

Intermountain Catholic

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Laurie Brewer (left), Sandra Nestman, and Janalyn Olsen visit with Santa Claus while touring Soroptimist homes in Bountiful Dec. 1. Individuals decorated their homes for Christmas to raise money for the Domestic Violence Shelter and to collect non-perishable food for the Davis County Food Bank. IC photo by Chris Young

BOUNTIFUL — "Playing Santa Claus I get the most beautiful smiles and marvelous eyes of pure wonderment. When I look in the faces of children who really believe, I see the magic of Christmas," said Joseph Nesi."

Nesi, a graduate of Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s class of 1969, has always wanted to play Santa Claus. When he was a young boy, his mother told him Santa lives in your heart.

"Santa Claus is for children," said Nesi. "When you are 7 or 8 years old it is over. The magic is gone. From then on you have to work for your gifts, or you realize your parents have to work for your gifts. So why not let the children have that little bit of magic? It is only for a short time that you get something just for being good.

"Generosity has always been easy for me," said Nesi. "I have always been able to share a part of my wealth. I got married and had six beautiful children. So playing Santa was easy. I could share my love with all of my children.

"The greatest gift God gave us was the gift of his son, Jesus, and the love of a mother, father, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles," said Nesi. "God loves everybody. It is only later in life we understand the true meaning of Christmas – the precious gift of Jesus.

"One of my daughters was born Dec. 23. She loved Christmas. But three years ago she died from suicide," Nesi explained still feeling the pain. Although I have five other children, Christmas was not the same."

Nesi spoke with his sister and told her of his desire to play Santa. His sister encouraged him saying he has a great singing voice, he has sung in two professional choirs, and he recorded for Sony. All this would help him put the spirit back into Christmas, and she would play Mrs. Claus. Together they make appearances at private parties, church parties, care centers, and where ever they are invited.

"I love to sing, and I love to sing for the children," said Nesi. "I especially like the religious songs like "Silent Night," and "O Holy Night," because those songs are more than one hundred years old and they have touched me and have significance in many people’s lives. We long for that peace because there is always struggle and strife somewhere in the world.

Another part of playing Santa is loving all of the children Nesi meets regardless of ethnicity, religion, or economic status. It does not matter. The children get the biggest thrill, and so does Nesi.

"When I look in the faces of the young children and see pure belief, I get so much in return," said Nesi. "Sometimes when they see me, they grab me by the leg and say ‘I’ve waited all year for you.’ They ask me how old I am, and I tell them Santa is timeless. He goes on from generation to generation to spread the good news just like the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus."

Nesi said last year he returned more than 180 letters to children, and additionally, letters from an entire school. He has a stamp from the North Pole that was approved by the Post Office, and he applies regular postage so they can be mailed.

"In my letters, and when I talk to children, I never make promises because that would be deceptive," said Nesi. "I always say I will do the best I can. I tell the children I would love them to do the best they can especially in school. They see Santa as someone significant."

For Nesi there is always one child who touches his heart the most. Last year it was a boy with cancer. Santa went to his house, and when the boy saw Santa, his smile lit up the room. He told Santa he wanted a train, and his parents said it was news to them.

"The boy started chemotherapy treatments, and I wish I could go back to see how he is doing," said Nesi.

"There is another family I have been visiting. This will be my sixth year with them," said Nesi. "Last year when I saw the grandfather, he did not look healthy. I put the Santa hat on him and we took pictures so they would have something to remember. He died during the year, so I have been praying a lot so that I say just the right thing to the children. I want them to know their grandfather is still loving them. They just can’t see him.

"I meet many people, especially children, and this Santa holds a lot of things close to his heart," said Nesi.