Santa is Just for Fun

This will be my daughter's 3rd Christmas and she has yet to sit on Santa's lap. In fact last week was the first time I pointed at Santa at Bass Pro and said "that is Santa Claus." She has no idea what he has to do with Christmas or why he exist just that he comes out at Christmas. I always thought I would be the mom that braved the line at Bass Pro to get a picture of my kids with Santa. Have the reindeer and Santas displayed at my house. Then I HAD kids and suddenly it was not as important to me that my kids saw Santa or if they even knew who he was. Now, do not get me wrong I love Christmas and holiday cheer, I have a Christmas tree that has been up since he beginning of November filled with Presents but the celebration of Santa is far from what I want my kids to learn.

Christmas is a celebration, a Birthday, a beautiful holiday of Jesus coming to Earth. Jesus deserves a lot more recognition but he really only gets 2 days his birth and death which has been intertwined with Santa and the Easter Bunny. I spend time everyday talking about Jesus in our home but I want them to know that Christmas was started as a holiday to celebrate Jesus' birth. That Everyone across the world celebrates this holiday because it is to remember the birth of Christ not because of Santa Claus and elves. That we give presents because God gave us the gift of life by sending his son. That it is a time to give to others to share the love of God. I do not ever want my children to doubt what I am teaching them is truth or not. Teaching my children that Santa is real and repeating it over and over seems to me that I am actually teaching them that I do not always tell the truth and you have to figure out what it is truth. I want them to know that when I tell them Christmas is Jesus' Birth and he sacrificed his life for us to have eternal life that it is truth that they will never have to think in their minds my mommy told us Santa is real and she lied maybe Jesus is not real. I want my kids to say my mommy told me Jesus is real so he has to be real! I not only want them to know because I tell them I want them to know because not only will Jesus be talked about in our home but He will be celebrated on holidays that were designed to remember Him.

I may be judged and may get a few scowls, because my 2 two year old will tell you Santa is not real he is just for fun but that's OK. My 2 year old will also tell you that "God so loved the world he gave his only son so that we will not perish but have eternal life. That God did not send his son into the world to Judge but to save the world through him." The only thing that matters at the end of the day, a 1 year from now, 10 years from now, and 50 years from now is that my children are living for God.