I promised more Santa posts and here is a beautiful post by one of my best blogging buds, Brandi! She is a a mom to 2 a sometimes blogger at Will Blog for Shoes and one of the funniest people I know! Here is her view of Santa and how they incorporate him into their Christmas traditions! Please show her lots of love by leaving a comment!
Saturday morning, I snuggled into bed with my three year-old to watch a movie. It was a Christmas movie, so I took the opportunity to ask him, “What is Christmas about?” His response: “Santa Cwaus!”
Yikes! Had I been wrong to sit him in the lap of the jolly old elf every Christmas since he was six months old? To start two months out using “the naughty list” as my sole crutch for bribing good behavior out of my son? Ok, the latter really isn’t earning me Mommy of the Year, but desperate times… you know?
If you asked me to sit down and convince someone to incorporate Santa Claus into their Christmas, I wouldn’t. To be honest, I couldn’t. Every single time I read someone’s blog post on why they choose not to introduce the concept of Santa to their children, I totally get it. You see, I’m a Christian. I believe with all of my heart in the virgin birth. I get really steamed when I hear a story of one more christian symbol being removed from some public Christmas display. I want my children to know about Mary and Joseph, about the shepherds, the wise men, the star. I want Christ at the very center of their holiday.
For me, the notion of a man in a red suit delivering presents to excited children while they sleep doesn’t negate any of that. To me, Santa epitomizes the spirit of Christ — a lifetime of giving, unconditionally (ok, maybe the whole “naughty list” thing is a little Old Testament), without asking for anything in return except that we believe. He inspires selflessness, generosity, and anticipation– all things I associate with Advent.
For me, a Christmas without Santa is like a Christmas without lights, without a tree, without exchanging gifts, without gathering with family, or without chocolate– all things that can overwhelm us and distract us from Jesus.
How can I say all that after having just heard straight from my three year-old’s mouth how Santa was the center of Christmas? Easy. He’s three. He tells anyone who’ll listen that he just pooped. He’d vote for Dora for president. He uses Play Doh as currency. He cries crocodile tears if his Woody pajamas are in the dirty clothes hamper.
He’s also the little boy who sat enthralled, in the rain, watching the whole living nativity at his grandparents’ church. He was just as excited to give his teacher a gift as he was that a classmate gave him not one, but two bouncy balls. As I type, he is curled up asleep with a Joseph figurine (he insisted that I sleep with Mary, his little sister have Baby Jesus, and his daddy take the donkey.)
I think he may be more Christ-centered than I am this Christmas… and I know “the truth” about Santa.
Excellent post! I agree with you 100%. I would never deprive my kids of the “magic” of Santa. My parents taught us about Christ’s birth, while still allowing us that magic of Santa. That balance is what we strive for in our family too. Thanks for this post!
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
I could not agree more! What a beautiful post Brandi!!!!
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Is this thing on? =-.
Beautiful post, B! (Even though we personally don’t really do santa… My kids are too distracted with gifts at this young age to ask where they came from. LOL.)
.-= Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt´s last blog ..DPP Day 21: The View From Here =-.
Great post Brandi!! I agree that a balance can be found … I think my parents did a good job as we grew up & I hope I can do a good job as well.
And Dora for president – hey we might as well try anything:)
.-= mandi @ it’s come to this´s last blog ..Top ten tuesday … christmas day countdown =-.
Well written Brandi.
I’ve had a santa post banging around in my head the last couple of days. Probably need to go ahead and write it, huh?
😉
Donna
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Cupcake Advent Wreath =-.
Thank you for sharing this, Brandi! I’m so new to all this and gung-ho about no Santa, that I forget that it’s not bad – it’s just different, and there is still magic in it, no matter what!
I have really enjoyed reading through your site, and I really needed this post. We are Christians and allow are kids to believe in Santa as well. We are one of the few families in our circle of influence who do so. I just told my mom that I was considering telling the boys the ‘truth’ about Santa. We feel pressured about being less of a Christian if we do the Santa thing. But like you, our boys have shown countless times that they have a heart for Christ. Thank you for being something of a pressure relief valve for me.
.-= Adelia´s last blog ..A Self-Righteous Indignation Sort of a Birthday =-.
This is the best post I have read in a long time!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Great post. Santa Claus is as real as Little Red Riding Hood and Humpty Dumpty. Nothing wrong with imaginations and magical fun as long as you are teaching the true meaning of Christmas your kids. They will know in time that there really wasn’t an old lady that lived in a shoe. 😉
Could not agree more! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this post! I have always believed that Santa shows Gods love by his selfless giving! Wonderful to know that I am not the only one!
our church illustrated a fantastic way of looking at Santa. We write Christmas plays every year and one year our pastor could not get away from wanting to buy a Santa suit. when we wrote the play, we understand God’s plan. Within the play, Santa explains all about Jesus using his suit. The black of his boots and belt describe our hearts even from the small listen. The red on his suit is like the blood Jesus shed to wash clean like his white parts on his suit/beard.