Monday, November 29, 2010
My Thoughts on Santa Claus and Christmas
Before I had Olivia I was sure we were going to "do" Santa. I insisted on it. But now Christmas is here... I can't bring myself to do it. Funny thing is I think it is in part through my study of all things organic I have come to desire simplicity more than complexity. Santa just seems to make Christmas that much more complex. I don't mind telling her the story of Santa as it is, a fairy tale with some basis of truth...there was a man who gave out presents at some point in European history. I don't think Santa is evil or wrong. I just don't want her to see him as the point of Christmas when there is another point to it entirely. Christmas is about giving but it is about more than that. It is about sacrifice. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice. I want her to know that. I desire her to know that we celebrate Christmas as a family to remember that Jesus was born to die and then raised to make intercession for us. I want her to know that Christmas isn't about family, presents and trees. It's not the warm fuzzy feeling we all get when we think of fireplaces, hot chocolate, pretty lights and stockings. Its something we can have all year long because it is about remembering, choosing not to forget who Jesus is. He is the Christ. The Messiah. The one who gave up EVERYTHING that we might live. Not live how we choose, not get what we want, but truly live. Jesus is our gift. The ultimate gift. Even if we are so poor there is nothing under our tree, even if there is no tree...we still have Christmas, because Christ is our "mas". I hope that to Olivia the miracle of Christmas is understood as the wonder of His birth, his death, his resurrection and our salvation. God may I be faithful to teach her of you!
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I am right there with you! Mark is old enough now, I figure he will ask about Santa this year. I plan to tell him the story and even explain that some people only believe in Santa, and not Jesus, and that we should share the 'Reason for the season!'
ReplyDeleteI think it is good to have a little make believe in your life especially as a child. I would not miss all those memories of waking up to find my sack filled with presents at the end of the bed. The excitment that Father Christmas was on his way. I think that God allows for us to have fantasy in our lives. Christmas is everyday of our lives and not one special day. Actually all of Christmas roots are in Roman custom and religion. It was a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice and a Roman god. In 529 AD after Christianity became the religion of Rome it was a civic holiday. Jesus was not born anytime near December 25 and I don't really consider Christmas a religious celebration as we should celebrate Christ's birth and death everyday.
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