The Season to Believe...

I have thought long and hard about the subject of Santa Claus vs Christianity over the last several weeks.  As a parent and former minister I have to be honest and say that I have never really struggled with the belief and differentiating between the two.  Growing up, with a set of the most stringent of grandparents when it came to their belief and faith in Christ one would have thought that Santa Claus would have been a big no-no.  But it was quite the contrary.  

When I was younger, my mother and I lived for bit with my grandparents and I remember one Christmas morning, very early sneaking down the stairs and taking a peak around the corner and seeing the leg of what looked like Santa Claus.  Now of course it could have been (and most likely was) my grandfather dressed as Santa Claus.  But that’s all it took for me.  I snuck back up to my room and got in bed.

Every Christmas Eve while they were alive was celebrated with my grandparents.  As I grew older it wasn’t so much about Santa Claus as it was spending time with family and giving gifts to one another, but more importantly it was the gift of time.  This was an evening of firsts.  The new babies from relatives would be shown off.  If one started dating a new person, they were introduced to the family on this night.  It was a huge to-do and everyone welcomed it.

Now that I have my own children, I have tried to instill to them that Santa Claus is not just some fictitious being.  I think that would be a poor choice on my part.  Otherwise how could I convince my children to belief in Christ.  Another being that one cannot see but is urged to believe in.  

You see, the decision that I have made is that Santa Claus is more about the spirit of giving.  He exists for children to understand that there is more to life than receiving the gift.  I have tried to teach them that he coincides with the Gift of Christ to man.  The ultimate gift if you will.

This year we have implemented two new traditions to our Christmas.  The first, the Elf on the Shelf and secondly Advent.  Elf on the Shelf is a fun way for parents to get involved and help children understand that you don’t just get gifts just because.  It helps them understand that being good year round is a good thing.  You can take the lesson and mold it any way you like.  But for Advent, I did a lot of research before deciding to implement this tradition.  I wanted to know what each part represented.  And if you know anything about it, it’s a great way to introduce your family to the true gift of Christmas, Christ. 

I guess what I am saying is why can’t there be both?  Why can’t we teach children who Santa is (his origins too, ie Saint Nicholas) and what Santa is about, and also teach our children about Christ and not only the gift that God gave the world, but the gift that Christ gave us in eternal life?   Both teach a giving heart.  I believe that this is what God wants.

At the end of the day, whether you are a believer in God, Santa Claus or whatever, Christmas IS about giving to one another. Giving freely with no regards.  Remember that as you go through your day and the hustle and bustle of Christmas.  It may just be your time that you give, but give it freely.

 

Just a thought….