Is Santa Coming to Town?

To do Santa or not to do Santa? That is the question.

Brad and I have struggled with how we would handle Santa with our children pretty much since we first got married and first started talking about it. We know families who we love and respect on both sides of the Santa argument. The reasons we've heard for not doing it have ranged from not wanting to lie to their kids, not wanting kids to confuse the myth of Santa with the truth of Jesus, ect. ect. ect.

We both grew up doing Santa and loved it, so we definitely don't see anything wrong with it. But the question is, what is right for our family and what do we want our own Christmas traditions to look like? In asking ourselves that question, we both admit that in general, there is a strong focus on presents, decorating, shopping, ect, when it comes to Christmas. And maybe even for us (people who know and celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Christ), that the real meaning of Christmas gets a little overshadowed by these other things. So, the one thing we're sure of is that we really want Christmas to be about CHRIST for us and our children. So, the question is, how do we do that?

So, we've tried really hard to make sure everything we do points back to Jesus. For example, this year, as we decorated our house with Christmas lights, we talked with Grayson about how Jesus is the light the world. And every time he receives a present, we talk with him about how Christmas is Jesus' birthday and that's why we give and receive gifts. And how Jesus is God's gift to us!!!

Grayson is all about Christmas this year, which has made it a very special Christmas so far to watch it all through is eyes. He just lights up at the tree and the lights and it is so fun to watch his amazement of it all. And he is very aware of Santa (which is why this year, we've had to actually make a decision). I mean, Santa is everywhere! TV, store windows, in front of our neighbor's house, and every waiter and store clerk asks Grayson what Santa is bringing him. We certainly are not trying to eliminate Santa from Christmas, and we couldn't even if we tried. But, we're trying not to focus on him. Every time Santa comes up, just like everything else, we try and point him back to Jesus. Who does Santa love? "Jesus!" And why did Santa give presents to boys and girls who didn't have anything? "Because he loves Jesus!" With every question Grayson has about Santa, we try and answer with the truth of who Saint Nicholas really was (a generous man who loved the Lord and should be recognized). Now, lucky for us, a three-year-old doesn't know the difference between past and present tense nor really the difference between pretend and reality, so we're not too worried about him going to church or pre-school and blabbing to his friends about how Santa isn't real. And we're not sitting down and having a heart to heart with him about how he's just a myth. But like everything else, we're trying to emphasize Jesus and point everything back to him!

I for one questioned if by not "doing the whole Santa thing" if we were in some way taking away some of the magic of Christmas from our children. But, as I've sat and read book after book this year about the birth of Jesus to Grayson, I've been reminded of the magic of the REAL Christmas story. To see his eyes light up every time he sees the stable with all the animals who watched as Mary and Joseph brought a baby into this world, who came to this world to save it. In telling him THAT story, and seeing the magic of that story through his eyes, I wonder if for the first time, if a story I've heard my whole life is penetrating my heart in a new way. And I realize how silly it might have been for me to wonder if the real meaning of Christmas in and of itself wasn't enough. Because Jesus is always enough! And I find myself praying that my children cling to that truth all the days of their life!

Merry Christmas from The Smith's!

We didn't get around to doing Christmas cards this year (our new addition along with our very active three-year-old is keeping us busy), so please enjoy a little online Christmas spirit from The Smith's! :)

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