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
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