My friend Jan is discussing the Santa debate on her blog this week. She asked me to join in and since I already have a post written regarding that topic, I directed people to my own blog to read my opinion. Wasn’t that nice of me? 😀 So, If you’re here from Jan’s blog, or IF you care at all what I think about Santa, then click here to read that post. I will say that I wrote it last year and as our children grow, our holiday traditions evolve and change. This year is going pretty much as we’ve been celebrating the past few years. We’ve already talked about next year looking a little different.
Back to the discussion at hand here on MY Journey. I’m pleased with the responses so far regarding the questions I asked in my last post. I shared them so we could discuss not only what I’ve been thinking about, but to make you think as well. I’ve already said that, but there are still a few that think they need to take this opportunity to lead me to the “right” answers. That’s not where I’m going with this discussion. Even I am not trying to lead you to the “right” answers. Yours may be different than mine. I’d like to keep the discussion going. And let me just jump ahead of a few of you here. Based on previous comments, I know where you’re headed mentally and I’m NOT saying there are no absolutes when it comes to “right” answers. There certainly are. But the tension usually comes from discussing the gray areas.
I’ve been talking with God and I’m confident that I’m to stay on this path…asking questions. I’m going to see The Golden Compass tonight with my husband. I’m still reading books 2 & 3. I’ll be sharing my thoughts and observations as I finish each one. If you tire of the discussion surrounding the books and movies, my hope is that you’ll still stick around to dialog about the deeper issues that they bring up. I appreciate your comments and the wrestling through the faith discussion. Don’t feel you have to agree with me, but please do remain respectful. I’m glad you’re here, and thank you for your input.
I will also be blogging about other topics during this faith discussion. The dialog about TGC stuff is not my only focus. Life is happening all around me and I’m not just an observer, I’m a participant. Coming up next week: My review of the movie, a review of August Rush, where the Nowell family is at this holiday season, some really great song lyrics, and more discussion about tough faith questions. See you then!
Sometimes I Write 
Oh, the Santa debate. I accidentally opened a can of something when I posted my thoughts, in passing, on a blog I share with a bunch of girlfriends. The only reason I brought it up is because I grew up reading a book with my family called “Santa, Are you for real?”, and I now have my own copy. It tells the story of St. NIcholas. Well, as I posted pictures of my Christmas decorations, I posted a photo of that book.
Anyway, I feel very differently from most of my friends, but I’m totally fine with that. They have a hard time understanding where I come from, and I may not do a great job explaining myself, but that’s ok, too.
I never believed in Santa, that I can remember. I don’t think my parents ever came straight out and told us he wasn’t real, or if reading the book caused us to not even ask questions, or what. But, we never got gifts from Santa and it wasn’t traumatic or sad or like we missed out on anything.
I’d like to do the same with my kids. I want them to understand why there are Santas in the malls, and where the history behind Santa came from, but I don’t want them to think that some man sneaks into our house in the night to leave gifts. I also don’t want them to feel pressured to lie or pretend with younger siblings or kids about whether Santa is real or not. And I don’t want to lie to them if/when they ask questions about Santa. Niki – I LOVE how you handled it with your son.
Now, I also don’t want my kids to go shout it from the rooftops and spoil it for other kids, but I think we’ll celebrate the real St. Nick in our house by reading the story and doing nice things for others.
Who knew this was such a hot topic?! =)
Merry Christmas!
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Yes, Niki, you did a great job handling Max’s questions. 🙂 Thanks for posting the link to make it easier.
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I too was raised in a “Let’s not celebrate Christmas” Christian household. So I always knew Santa was not real. And now that I do celebrate Christmas, I never even considered lying to my kids. We’ve told our young ones about St Nicholas and how cool he was, and how we like to pretend that he comes and gives us presents. But a couple weeks ago, our 5-year-old said “I wish you hadn’t told me that!” He sees his friends enjoying the fantasy, and he can’t quite join them. Anyway, I hardly know what to think about that… Maybe I’m not as smart as I thought?!?…
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I embrace the Santa mythology. I see him as an altruistic ally in the battle against the over-consumerization of the Christmas season (a man who lives to give to others). I also embrace the history of St. Nicholas. He is truly the saint of the people (he was never officially canonized as a saint by the Western church {read “Catholic”}, which means his memory has been preserved by the faithful in Christ).
I don’t view it as “lying” to your kids if you believe in the magic of Santa yourself, which my wife and I do. I need to have a shirt made that says “Santa is my homeboy.”
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I am still working through the Santa thing. I, too, have to get past the legalistic upbringing, and find my own decision. I have been riding the coat-tails of Dad’s beliefs, and found that he is right more often than he is wrong. However, I don’t agree with all of his reasoning. I have also ridden the wave of joining in the celebrations of the in-laws, to keep the DH happy.
I think it is a failing that the church of my youth would not use the opportunities afforded them to teach the Truth about Jesus. Christmas is one day that the entire Nation celebrates Jesus, and we let that be the only day. Have your opinions about the date of the birth, have your discussions about the influence of the Pagans on the ceremonies…. but for the love of people, share Jesus. Be Jesus to the lost and dying world.
This one is a hot potato in my family, and I usually just toss it back. I get to roll my eyes for a month, and not go caroling while I work it all out in my head. I like the tree with lights on it, but that doesn’t mean I am worshiping that instead of the God who made all things.
This is the first year (ever, I think) that I have not thought about ME. I have attended to the needs of others, and I don’t care IF I get presents, or what they might be. I dare say I don’t even WANT presents. God has given me so much more than I deserve, and I have squandered it away. Why should I demand more? Maybe the whole idea of this holiday is to remember that there are hungry people who would be thankful for my dinner; maybe I need to remember to share it with them.
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Sorry for the the off topic comment. But, as we turn our hearts toward family and friends during the Christmas holiday, I wanted to let you to know that I am thankful for blessing of many new friends I’ve come to “know” here in blogland. The tie that binds us is our shared love for and devotion to the Savior whose birth we remember during this special time of the year. May your days be full of holiday blessings; and, may your heart be filled with the warmth of His presence.
Blessings,
-bill
Spiritual Oasis Blog
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