HoHoHo...

Merry Christmas!

Waiting in the {nice, short} line:

Santa: "And what do you want for Christmas?"

Cate:  "Rufie and tools."* 

Halle:  "Kit and a sewing kit."

Ty:  blank, mistrustful stare.

Santa:  "Okay.  Well, we'll have to see if you're good girls and boys!  Be good, now."

All three:  blank, mistrustful stares

Remember last year, I warned you that our kids know there's not a real Santa Claus?  It weirds them out a little to see fake ones. 

 ("Mommy, why did that real man pretend he was a real Santa?  Doesn't he know the truf?" -Cate, back in the car.) 

I know some people think that we've ruined Christmas by not letting them believe in Santa, and I'm okay with that.  But how can it be ruined if you're never let down?  I knew at a really young age that there was no Santa, and I never felt like Christmas "lost it's magic." 

We want our kids to know deep inside of them what Christmas is about:

The King of the Universe sent his own son to be born as a lowly human in a lowly manger.  That sweet, fully human-fully God baby boy grew into a boy who was wise enough at the age of 12 to teach in the Jewish Temple.  He lived a sinless life, worked as a carpenter, and then when the time was right, taught the truth. He allowed himself to be killed on a cross.  On the third day he conquered death and rose from the grave.  

Jesus came, He died, and he rose again to set us free.  He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one can go to the Father except through Him.  And if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved.  And if we love Him, we will obey his commands.  And if we live according to his Word, we will keep our way pure.  And if we mess up, he is faithful to forgive.  He has loved us with an everlasting love. 

That baby,

that man,

this God,

is Christmas.

You have every right to think we're weird.  Or fanatic.  Or whatever.  We're okay with that.  We believe in Jesus.  And we're trying to live out that belief.  The Bible tells us to teach our children the Truth when we sit down and when we stand up and when we walk along the way- and that's what we're trying to do in everything.  Not just Christmas.  But it's a great place to start.

Please, don't misunderstand:  we do not think you're bad parents if you allow your children to believe Santa is real.  We really don't.  And I promise we've pounded it into our kids not to talk about it with other children! 

If you're still reading this post, you're probably either 1) in agreement with me or 2) so bored you'll read anything.  :)

*Rufie= "Ruthie" (American Girl doll) & tools= no idea, first time I've heard about tools.  :)