We’ve all heard about the war on Christmas. The politically correct season of “Happy Holidays” or the well wishes for a “Happy Season” without saying the potentially offensive word of CHRISTmas. I admit I use to get wrapped up in that war. I even almost bought one of those bumper stickers that said, “Keep Christ in Christmas”. I am over it and I have moved on to the war on Santa. Huh?
When my husband and I were new parents we had a little “discussion” about Santa. He grew up with the fun belief and child-like wonder of Santa. I did not. Now I never knew Santa as the “Satan” many extreme Christians made him out to be but we just didn’t grow up with the Santa thing. In fact, I had to keep my dis-belief on the down-low as not to offend or ruin the tradition of Santa for other family friends. So having my own children I just assumed my kids would follow my up-bringing with the fun to look at Santa but not to believe in. After all, I never wanted anything to take away from the true meaning of Christmas.
My husband had a different perspective. Fast forward almost 15 Christmas’ now with children and Santa is always alive and well each Christmas morning. We even have a red suit tucked away in our closet. If ever a girl could “backslide” into the down spiral of Santa ville um, that’s me.
So what changed for me in deciding Santa was okay? I admit I was apprehensive. As a parent, I wanted to instill the importance of Christmas and the birth of Christ in my children so they could learn to worship and honor the season with reverence. I didn’t want Santa to take anything away from that. Then I realized Santa and the many distractions that come with the holiday cannot take away the truth revealed through the celebration of the birth of Christ.
How silly to think that my husband and I would be somehow limiting the truth through Santa. You cannot limit the message of Christ when you genuinely worship the real meaning of the season. This became reality for me the other day when I read a sentence in a story my 9-year-old son wrote entitled, “Winter”. As he was describing why winter was his favorite season with snow and cold air he wrote, “We celebrate Christmas on the 25th because that’s when Jesus was born. I think the greatest gift I could ever get on Christmas is God and Jesus”. My eyes filled with tears as a mother reading that because Truth in my son’s heart is greater than fiction. No mention of the guy in the red suit who probably still might show up early this next Christmas morning.
Now I am not promoting Santa in any family. I didn’t grow up with the old jolly St. Nick and I don’t feel I was gipped of any Christmas wonder. I am just sharing for the sake of the war on Christmas and for all the Santa bashers that always appear around this time of year. If you truly live out your faith in front of your children and worship the true and living God, nothing will separate your children from the real truth in knowing Christmas is about the Savior born in a wooden manger and crucified on that forgiveness stained cross.