I remember when the magic left for me. I was 7 years old and my neighbor Larry told me the horrifying news that Santa wasn’t real. I knew he must have been mistaken. So I snuck out of my room on Christmas Eve and hid under the Tree, in the corner where our tree was placed, and I waited. I waited to see for myself. I fell asleep under the tree, but was awoken to the sound of wrapping paper rustling as presents were placed under the tree. Through sleepy, hope filled 7 year old eyes, I saw my mom putting the presents under the tree. I was crushed. My whole pediatric value system was shot. My mom heard whimpering from under the tree and after a second or two of bewildered stares into the the tree. she said, “um Kyle, please come out here.” I told her the story and she proceeded to explain to me that Santa had been there, but was running behind and he handed her the presents to put under the tree for him.
I didn’t buy it.
Was this innocent fun make believe or was this sewing seeds of distrust toward my parents and the things they were trying to teach me? Was this God guy they talked about also make believe?
I am not an ultra-conservative Christian (see my posts on Halloween), but the whole Santa thing has never set quite right for me.
As a family, we have talked with our children about the Legend of Santa Clause in terms of it’s origin with the very real St. Nicholas ( http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38 ). It is a great story that teaches some great lessons about generosity and self-sacrifice. We have told the kids that the modern Santa is a fun way to remember what this good man did a long time ago. We have never told them Santa was real. We do photos with Santa and Santa has been to our house, but our kids always knew it was fun, not real. A few years ago when our kids wanted to know why some people believe he is real, we had the discussion described above about St Nicholas. We thought they got it, till we found out that our son had gone back to his preschool class and announced that his dad told him that Santa was real, but he died a long time ago . . . The other parents weren’t very happy with us.
My wife and I did not want make believe things like Santa, the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy to cloud what we believe to be the truth about God. We have fun with the traditions and are kids have fun, but understand that it is just another fun part of a Holiday that means oh so much more.
Our family’s custom is to throw a Birthday party for Jesus at Christmas and as my kids say, “Jesus is so kind, he lets us get the presents on his birthday.” Boy did He ever. Is. 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
What are your thoughts? Do your kids believe in Santa?
I have always “believed” in Santa Clause, but I knew it was just like the tooth fairy. It wasn’t hard for me to guess the truth when I came downstairs one Christmas and our gas fireplace (without a chimney) was full of presents. I just thought it was a game. I knew there was a difference between God and Santy because I had never seen anybody worshiping the old fart, but I had seen people whose lives were changed because of God. I figured Santa must be God in disguise
Bethany and I may have played the Santa game with our oldest daughter…can’t remember now, but, if we did, we stopped when she was still pretty young. We explain the history of Saint Nicholas each year to our children and make sure to redirect their attention to the birth of Christ. We have gone back and forth about whether to even have a Christmas tree because of the secular, materialistic, consumer-focused disaster that Christmas has turned into…and because of scripture references like Jeremiah 10:1-5 and Isaiah 55:13.
Last year we decided to have a Christmas tree…mostly for me. I have so many good memories and joy associated with Christmas trees. The year before we didn’t have a Christmas tree and it didn’t feel the same. I think the danger in Christmas trees is if they become idols or if they redirect our admiration away from Jesus. I decided to go ahead and bring the Christmas tree back into our house because when I sit in front of the tree and enjoy the beauty of the lights I inevitably find my thoughts drifting to the birth of Christ, the star that the wise men followed, the heavenly host of angels that declared the birth of the Savior to the Shepards and that announced God’s intentions (peace on Earth and good will toward men), and the presents that were laid before the baby Jesus and his earthly parents. I think of how fragile God’s plan was for us. In summary, I don’t find myself idolizing the tree.
Also, I don’t remember being disappointed when I found out that Santa was a farce. My mom always did a great job of making Christmas about Christ…all Santa ever did was fill my stocking…which I appreciated..but didn’t really care of Santa filled it or if my mom filled it…in fact, I think I enjoyed it more when I knew it was my mom filling it
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music…many of the stations start playing only Christmas music on Thanksgiving day. I know that drives some people nuts but I look forward to it all year…only a few days to go!
Blessings, BoB
Here is the Jeremiah reference for those interested:
Jeremiah 10
God and Idols
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says:
“Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good.”
I know this is a little off topic but I just read this and thought it might be helpful to everyone as we approach “Black Friday” and Christmas:
Found here at this link…or just read below:
http://www.soundmindinvesting.com/visitor/2009/dec/level1.htm?jmid=7614
Have Yourself a Merry Debt-Free Christmas
By Robert Frank
© Sound Mind Investing | December 2009
Most consumers say they’re planning to cut back on their Christmas spending this year, according to an October poll conducted by Consumer Reports. That’s a good idea, given that the same poll found that more than 13 million Americans are still paying off credit-card debt from last year’s holiday season.
But I have an even better idea: Why not help reclaim the true spirit and meaning of Christmas by declaring that, as for you and your house, the 2009 holiday season will be debt-free?
Here are 10 simple ideas that can enable you to make this Christmas a no-debt Christmas.
1. Take a stand. Hold a family meeting and declare that you are not going to fund gift-giving (or other Christmas-related expenses) with debt. Resolve that: (1) you will not spend more than a predetermined amount, (2) you won’t allow advertising hype and “guilt buying” to control your family, and (3) you will pray and work as a team to meet your goal.
2. Allocate money. If you didn’t include Christmas spending in your overall budget this year (yikes!), you’ll have to make adjustments. Your options are to reduce allocations to other budgeted items or to dip into any surpluses set aside for major purchases or a vacation (you’ll simply have to delay those things until you can replenish the funds).
Help your children allocate their money too, so that they have a clear budget for gift buying. (This is an opportunity to teach your children to manage money!)
3. Make a list. Before you start shopping, list the people to whom you will be sending gifts or cards. Also list items related to Christmas: decorations, wrapping paper, parties, food and activities. Then, list the estimated cost for each gift and item.
If your total cost exceeds the amount you budgeted, review your list and change the items (or delete a few) until your resources and costs match. (Strategy: When possible, use gifts to keep the focus on Jesus.)
4. Shop alone. If you take a friend with you, you’ll spend more money. If you take a child or a spouse, you’ll spend even more! So go alone if possible, stick to your list, and come home. The longer you are in a store, the more impulse buying you’re likely to do.
5. Eat before you leave. When you go shopping, eat before you leave home. Eating at the mall or at a restaurant is expensive. (If you do shop with someone else, agree ahead of time that you won’t be eating out.)
6. Draw names or exchange “family” gifts. If you have hordes of people in your extended family, have the adults draw names. This allows you to focus your attention on one person and buy (or create) something meaningful. In addition, you can work with your family to set price limits.
A related idea: Instead of buying for individuals, exchange “family gifts” — such as family games, DVDs, magazine subscriptions that match a family’s interest (i.e., skiing, camping, traveling), personalized stationery, photo albums, and Christmas decorations.
7. Go out of your way. Not everything has to be purchased at malls and mega-stores. The best gifts often can be found in the unlikely places: hardware and garden stores; auto-supply shops; secondhand stores and garage sales; coffee shops; sporting goods stores; used-book shops; arts-and-crafts and fabric stores; athletic clubs, and pet stores. Example: a car survival kit for someone who travels often — with flares, a thermal blanket, jumper cables, a “help needed” sign.
8. Online shopping. One of the best ways to reduce seasonal costs (and hassles) is to shop online. You usually can get the same products as at retail stores, often at lower prices — and in many cases with free shipping to boot.
Online shopping eliminates fuel costs, impulse buying (the single biggest threat to your Christmas budget), and the possible expense of eating at a restaurant. (And, depending on where you live, you might avoid sales tax too.)
9. Be creative. If you don’t have enough money to do what you had originally planned, get creative. Use your skills and the resources around you. Gifts of service are a great way to save money. Make clever coupons entitling the recipient to free babysitting, snow shoveling, weeding a garden, house cleaning, back rubs, etc. Talented amateurs might offer to cater a romantic dinner for two, install a shelf, or give a golf or music lesson.
Also, time is a wonderful gift. Offer to take an elderly relative shopping or a child to a day-long activity. A long-distance relative might appreciate a video or audio recording of their loved ones more than a flannel shirt or a case of cheese that might cost two or three times as much.
10. The most awesome Gift. The real story of Christmas is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, who graciously paid our “sin debt” and provides forgiveness and life to all who believe in Him. This year, make it a point to share this most awesome, meaningful gift — the Gospel and love of Jesus — with someone else. It’s absolutely free!
Robert Frank is the director of internal communications at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., and the editor of WSU Today. From 1993 to 2000, he published the No-Debt Living newsletter.
Does this mean you are not getting me a Christmas present. I just need to know for budgeting purposes whether or not to get you one.
As long as I am invited to the Birthday party it doesn’t matter.
BoB
My parents never told me about Santa… Dad didn’t want Santa getting all the credit for our presents and frankly I feel the same way. I’M SANTA!!! I tell my kids that all Dads are Santa. I don’t like the idea of telling my kids that Santa IS really a guy at the north pole (Since there isn’t one) But we don’t have problems getting excited over the idea of Santa and seeing him at the mall and waving and being happy and such.
meh…