With Thanksgiving behind us,
Christmas is coming! Every year around this time I get questions from
moms and dads asking for my opinion on Santa Claus: “Did you tell your
kids there is a Santa?” Some are very adamant: “Santa Claus is a
replacement of Jesus in this secularized society and just another way of
spreading the materialism of this age.” Others see the fable as
harmless delightful fantasy: “I believed in Santa when I was a kid and
it didn’t hurt me! It’s just a fun way to give the kids a little magical
spark during this wonderful season.”
Have you ever thought that Santa can provide a springboard for reinforcing young minds with the true meaning of Christmas?
You see, there was a real Santa Claus. From the time our children
were very young, we taught them about the real man behind the legend.
Hundreds of years ago there lived a man named Nicholas (later known as
St. Nicholas) who inherited a great sum of wealth from his parents. He
was born in 280 AD and his parents died when he was just a boy. Early in
his life he devoted himself to God and the Lord’s service. He grew up to
become a pastor in modern day Turkey, and he gave away all of his
wealth to help the poor––especially children. When he was persecuted and
imprisoned for his faith, he shared his meager provisions with the
other inmates. He gained a reputation for giving both out of his
abundance, and then out of his poverty. He believed that giving to the
needy was the same as giving to Jesus. He was right. Jesus taught that
himself (Matt. 25:40). His example of giving sparked in many, a tradition
of giving to commemorate the birth of Jesus. St. Nick was a real person
who left for us a wonderful example. But I think he would be horrified
to know how he has come to be the exaggerated focus on materialism for
many children at this time of the year.
Linda and I have always taught our children about the real Santa
Claus. We also emphasized to our children that lying is absolutely and
always wrong. To us, our integrity is one of the most important gifts we
can give our kids. We have an agreement: We will never lie to them;
they are never to lie to us. I would have a hard time teaching them
that if I maintained a story to be true for years while knowing that it
was not. As a child, once I learned that the Santa story I had been told
was only a fable, I began to wonder if the stories about Jesus were
just fables as well. Though I believed in Santa Claus as a child, and my
children have enjoyed pretending the legend but knowing its roots, I
did not enjoy Christmas more than them. In our family, we try to
emphasize giving to others, not getting from Santa. I think they enjoy
it more because they get excited about the “giving projects” we take
part in as a family. We really try to make Christ the centerpiece of His
birthday celebration and this way we believe we are passing on to our
children a heritage far more valuable than any fun that make-believe can
provide.
As parents, you have the obligation to do and teach your children
what is right for your family. I trust you will pray about this issue
and are sincere in how you believe the Lord is leading. His way is
always the best way!
In the meantime, please do your best to establish Christmas
traditions in your family that will focus on Jesus and how His birth
provided for us communion with God! Use this holiday season to lead your
children in making Christ your first priority.
Monday, November 26, 2012
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