This is the 7th story in our Dear Santa: Real Questions, Real Answers series where the questions are real, and so are the answers.

“Why do I see so many different Santas?”

Have you ever noticed the moon shining in many different windows?

Each window may be a different shape. Some are tall, some are small, and some are old and weathered, but they are all carrying the light of the same moon.

Santa works a little like that.

Santa’s work is too important and too large for one person to carry alone. There are too many children to encourage, too many lonely people to remember, and too many places that need a little kindness.

So Santa’s calling looks for people with room in their hearts for that work.

They may be tall or short. Their faces and skin may be different. Their beards may be long, curly, snowy white, or still becoming white.

But each person who truly answers the calling is entrusted with the same promise: listen carefully, protect children, give without seeking praise, and leave people with more hope than they had before.

You are not seeing many different Santas.

You are seeing one Santa shining through many different people.

The Santas may look different, but the light they are trusted to carry is the same.