Monday, December 27, 2009
I read a couple of blogs this Christmas in which people explained their reasons for why they do not want their kids to believe in Santa Claus. I've appreciated their words and their perspectives; they have been thought-provoking and have created discussion about what we want to do in our family. While I appreciated what others shared about their opinions and their decisions about their families, I didn't agree with everything that was said and that's why our decision is different than those of the blogs I read.
A couple of reasons that people didn't want to do the "santa clause thing" were: the feeling it would stunt the spiritual growth of their kids, encouraging their kids to think there is a reward system for being good (i.e. eat your peas or Santa won't come!) and wanting your kids to trust the good word of their parents and to revel in the generosity of their parents, rather than a fictional person, at Christmas. All of these things are good and I agree as a parent and a Christ-follower that I want my kids to have right understanding of God and His son, Jesus, to trust in my word and to know that salvation is by faith and not good works.
I believed in Santa Claus until about the age of 9 or 10, when I discovered a gift from Santa hidden in hall closet before Christmas morning. I do not believe that my spiritual growth and spiritual knowledge were stunted because I believed in Santa. My parents also never used Santa as a dangling carrot for good behavior for my sister and I. And in our family, we have committed to doing the same. We want obedience to come out of a love for God and for us, a trust that we hold the best interests of our kids and our family in mind at all times.
And while Santa's legend stops short of a great analogy to our Christian faith, I think a belief in Santa can encourage our kids to consider the mystery and generosity that is part of the Christ-filled celebration. Santa Clause comes from the real St. Nicholas, known for his generosity stemming from his faith in God. Our kids will get gifts from us and from Santa. They will experience the generosity of their parents as we give them good gifts, but even more as they see the good gifts of their Heavenly Father, first and foremost in the giving of His Son.
I don't want my kids to forever believe in fairy tales -- life has bumps and valleys, a happily ever after takes work and self-sacrifice and an all-knowing Santa does not exist. But childhood holds a special naivete where these realities do not need to be fully experienced. An innocence that has great joy, security and trust. I want to encourage this wonder and this trust. And while enjoying the fairy tales of childhood, I also want to instill in my family the Truth that is Love, that an all-knowing, all-powerful, always-present God is with us in valleys, in self-sacrifice of marriage, friendship and parenthood. That a generous Father is the giver of good things beyond our understanding. And that the greatest mystery of Christmas is not how Santa gets to every house in one night or knows just what each child wants but instead that God gave up His diety, limiting Himself and His power to come dwell among us first as a tiny baby and then a young man who would give His very life, perfect and without blame, for each person, imperfect and full of blame, who would accept this, the greatest gift of Chistmastime.
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