Why and How We're Passing Down the Santa Tradition

There are lots of ideas swimming in my mind as to how I want to disciple our children. Several of these ideas pertain to Christmas as it presents so many Gospel "moments." So in a way, I feel superficial writing a Santa Claus post as way of welcoming the advent season...but on the other hand I don't think it's superficial at all. And here's why...

Last week, during our visit with my parents (Poppa and Gammy), we dressed Joshua in his Christmas clothes and introduced him once more to the world of childhood imagination, fantasy, and wonder. We took him to see Santa Claus.

And he was a lovely Santa. Cheerful and clothed in a beautiful red suit, I thought. He was located at the Bass Pro Shop in Prattville, AL which was a big plus for J-man's Outdoorsy Daddy ;) These guys no how to do good business...we didn't pay a dime and they have crafts and games as well! The line moves swiftly and you can shop all you want afterwards. Oh we had such a lovely time!!!

For years Nathan and I dreamed and discussed how we would "do" Christmas with our family. After serious consideration, we decided that we will continue the "Santa" tradition as we experienced as a child except that we will teach him from the beginning the true story of Nicholas (Saint Nicholas) and we'll teach him that the Santa tradition continues but is pretend. "Santa" will come to our house; we might even bake him cookies and put our reindeer food; but he will know that we're just pretending and that Mommy and Daddy bought the presents. Why? It's NOT because we were scarred as children. I thought Santa was a real person until third grade. After I found out the truth, Christmas continued as always and in my heart it was just as meaningful.

Here is an article that perfectly articulates what we plan to tell our children about Santa and why. Instead of re-writing about the topic, here is the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/what-we-tell-our-kids-about-santa/2011/12/21/gIQAozUY9O_blog.html

So ditto to the what he said... ;)

I did believe that Santa was a real person and again was not "scarred." In fact, thank you Mama and Daddy for making Christmas so special. I cherish every precious memory...and they are precious to me. I worshiped with my family on Christmas Eve at our candle light service and praised Jesus for coming to earth. Truthfully, my favorite part of Christmas was being with family as well as church family.

(Just as a side note...Perhaps part of my understanding was due to the fact that I became a Christian when I was five years old. I guess I've always been a school teacher at heart because I decorated my bedroom like a classroom (as in, I decorated my door and put up a bulletin board. I created a nativity scene using a shoe box for a stable, and toilet paper rolls as people and animals. I taped a big star above the box. I always knew the "Reason for the Season." Santa never threatened to steal my devotion. When I made Christmas ornaments I wanted to make angels and advent wreaths. I've always loved Christmas!)

I want to teach Joshua the Bible. I want him to know Genesis to Revelation. I want him to understand what happened 434 years after Daniel's vision (Daniel 9). The Messiah was born. God became man and came to earth as a baby! Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man (mystery upon mystery that no one can quite wrap their mind around) was born...and Mary wrapped him swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. She swaddled the Son of Man because it reminded him of the womb. He left His throne to be thrust into a cold evil world. The world He created and chose to save. I want Joshua and all my children to understand!!!! Oh I pray they embrace the most beautiful and precious gift of all...life in Jesus Christ. Oh I pray...

But how to they know how to celebrate? Through watching Mommy and Daddy celebrate. I want to teach Joshua how to celebrate. This might sound odd, but I believe that emotions are an important part of early childhood. I care deeply that Joshua is "happy" when he is at church today, because that special feeling when he walks in the door will be embedded into his subconscious. In the same way "excitement" is something I want him to feel  at Christmas time. I want him to feel the love we have for him as a tangible way of understand the love God has for him. I want him to experience excitement over receiving a desired gift so that he can understand the concept of receiving. (Which means we're doing away with "Santa's bringing this gift because you were good." We're giving the gift because we love him.) Don't get me wrong, I know I must guard against making Santa, sugar cookies, candles, Christmas lights and trees, music, and toys idols. We certainly can turn these things into idols. But we can also turn them into symbols...tangibles...faith teaching tools. I want to pull out all the stops. I want December to be EXCITING!!!

There are several ways we pray to make Advent exciting and special. I hope to post on the others (one of which is the Advent devotional "A Jesse Tree Journey." But among the traditions...is Santa Clause coming to town... ;-)

So here's to Advent lesson number one:         Receiving A Gift...Grace

Thanksgiving Traditions

My parents hosted our annual family reunion in Tallassee on Thanksgiving Day. We realized Thursday afternoon that 2012 is the 20th year of hosting the Funderburk family at my parents house. That's right, we've been getting together at my parents since 1992! Before that we met at Mamaw and Papaw's. Before that the Funderburk family gathering was at Grandmother Funderburk's. Here's some photos...


Thanksgiving 1993 I believe...I'm totally guessing based on my hair...for whatever that's worth. ;)


I think this is in 2004...


And here's 2012...all of the great-grandchildren.

The four Funderburk siblings.

I guess for the past 13 years or so (definately since I was in high school) I've helped my mom put up their tree the day after Thanksgiving. This year we had a little helper. ;)

And he LOVED the tissue paper.

We had such a sweet time in Tallassee, and now we're kicking off the Christmas season. We have several Christmas traditions that Nathan and I have decided to incorporate into our family. I'd like to post about all of them in more detail sometime this week.

 

A Special Memory

A few weeks ago, Nathan and I had the honor of attending a special concert featuring my dad's music.

 

Piano music filled my home as a child as playing was more than my dad's favorite pasttime...it was his passion. He wrote his first song "Godspeed" for St. Mark United Methodist's youth choir during our Birmingham years in the 80s. Over 25 years later he's had numerous pieces published and his music is sung around the world.

 

The concert was organized by Dale Peterson of First Baptist Church Auburn. Each year FBCA hosts a concert dedicated to the work of one composer. This year the concert featured my dad's music.   

 



I love this picture of my dad and Mamaw!

My Aunt Ruth came to the concert and came by afterwards to meet Joshua.

I Will Lift My Hands in Prayer

Beth Moore Quote regarding Daniel 9:
"Daniel knew his God, yet God never ceased surprising him. Dear One, please don't assume that God will always work in your life the way He always has. A sunset is proof that God colors outside the lines. He has no status quo. Even the laws of nature are His to interrupt. As many times as youv'e prayed before, today may be the day when God sends the answer so swiftly--so divinely--that you're windburned...God doesn't have voice mail. He doesn't check His messages when He gets a minute. We're not put on hold and told all calls will be answered in the order received. We don't have to wait until someone else finishes for ours to be heard. When we bring our earnest confessions and petitions before God, while we are still praying, He hears."

I like to place visuals around my house that draw my attention to pray. They don't hold any special spiritual significance...they just remind me to pray. The full caption regarding the picture below is to be continued. But when you see it, will you join me in lifting your hands in prayer? The picture is also meant to mark the date for me. One day I'll look back on this date and be reminded that our Lord Jesus hears! That moment may be soon or it may be in eternity, but one day I will know the depth of His answer. And so I will lift my hands in prayer.

 

Truthfully all of God's attributes are incomprehensible. But among them, His desire for intimacy is most astounding. I can't wrap my heart around the idea...but I want to! Lord please help my unbelief. Increase my faith.

 

His First Illness

Right now, I'm sitting on my front porch in the quiet sunshine and trying to pause and soak in the story of God's provision for this week. Like so many of you who blog, mine is kind of like a public journal, so some of these details are for me and our family...ways to remember. After two weeks of busyness (what I consider good busyness...working with HeartCry), I was so excited last weekend for our schedule to hit a lull. I savored being home and not having too much (or anything) crammed into the day. I finished house chores in about an hour and enjoyed the rest of the day with Joshua, playing. Then when he napped I walked and read...perfect Monday! Then I started to feel sick Monday...Tuesday a little worse, but no big deal because I have allergies and cold-like symtoms is one way my body welcomes the holiday season (Deck the Halls and Pass the Tissue...;)

But Wednesday night Joshua woke up congested for the first time in his 4 and half month life. I've known the day was coming, and I've kind of dreaded it in the back of my mind.

THis might seem kind of random, but I've been going through the major and minor prophets in the Bible since this time last year. I felt God leading me to really soak in what He has to say in these precious but often neglected books. So for the past two months I've been in Ezekiel and Daniel studying eschatology...the "End Times." I just so happened to be in Daniel in 2008 when we first moved to Peachtree City and during the Obama/McCain campaign. I find it to be no coincidence at all. I know that God is telling me that there is so much more going on in the Heavenlies...and He is Ruler over all. He is. But in these books is certain call for urgent and diligent obedience as well as strong discernment for good/evil...true/false...and and urgency to obey the Lord. Scripture is that double edged sword that pierces the heart and convicts...I'm staring at my weaknesses in the face.

Now keep in mind before I write what I'm about to write...I know what the Scripture says about these topics. I know in my head facts about my faith. I KNOW Jesus and know what He says is true. The reason I record this fact is that deep down for the past, I don't know--month, I haven't felt Him. There have been times in my life where, though I didn't hear Him audibly, I felt His presence in such a powerful way that my obedience was carried out with firm confidence. Lately, I read Scripture, I pray, I act based on what I believe He is telling me to do...but I haven't felt His presence. Basically, deep down, what I've been asking Him...but do you really love...me? Do you really...? Me??? I know...I know...He does...but in my heart...I've been well for lack of a better word (or a word that makes me feel better about myself)...doubting.

So Wednesday comes, Joshua is sick. Oh no...but I start saying all the right things in my head...speaking truth about God. But honestly, I was scared...And I was also telling Jesus that "even though this isn't a big deal for most...I'm scared...plain and simple."

And simply put...God sent a friend in my time of need. Her name is Joy...Joy Baldwin Finch...my sweet friend whom I credit for leading me to a life altering repentence in high school with her fiery conviction and sweet spirit! Joy answered her phone and I got to share my heart. It's amazing the ministry of friendship!

She spoke truth that I needed to hear and reminded me of what I already knew to be true. Amazing how when I hit a spiritual or mental block and I can't find the salve of certain Scripture promises...God often uses others to speak them to me.

So I was reminded (sorry for a lack of reference...pressed for time ;-) :

• God tests faith.
• Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.
• We walk by faith not by sight
• God disciplines His children whom He loves.

And something else to remember...sometimes life circumstances are a test of faith. All the sudden I saw my little challenges to be excercises of faith and remembered that the Holy Spirit is here very present...acutely aware of everything...and in a sense...I was given spiritual eyes and ears once more to very much know that I was right where God wanted me to be. And He strengthened me.

Another thing I'm doing on a daily basis is speaking out the truth (even when my heart doesn't grasp the reality of what I'm saying) that nothing in this world belongs to me. It's all His. I'm going to choose to focus on the New Heaven and Earth that is to come. Obedience is much easier when I remember the futileness of clinging to (and loving) this world.

This week I've tried to focus on nurturing my family...specifically our sweet baby. Joshua has bronciolitis (sp?). I'm trying to focus on these things:

• Feeding him.
• Aspirating his nose.
• Giving him the albuterol (sp?) through the nebulizer (sp?).
• Massaging him with lotion.
• keeping socks on his feet and using baby chest rub.
• Cleaning cleaning cleaning cleaning...like a crazy woman.

But God has been so faithful to speak to me through His word. And yes, I still find myself fearful. And yes, I speak truth out loud...and actually last night I felt my heart strengthened. He is and will be faithful. In my weakness He is strong.


Here's Joshua enjoying a steamy bathroom...trying to loosen up that mucus.

 

Sweet boy having to breath out of his mouth.

 

 

 

Going back to the doctor to check out his cough.

He's being such a little trouper.

Today he's been more energetic. He still congestted, but much less coughing and drooling like crazy. :)

And on a happier note, here is his new Christmas stocking.