Whether you "do" or you "don't" when it comes to Santa Claus at Christmas, I followed the links on "Girltalk Blog" and read a couple of great articles by Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile. Don't let the fact that you can't say his name fool you!:) He is a wise pastor from the Cayman Islands with lots of great things to share!
Santa seems to be one of those "traditions" passed down, but how many of us have actually spent much time thinking through just what we are celebrating at Christmas. Pastor Thabiti does a great job answering some tough questions as well as giving some great advice to us parents on how to handle the questions we (or our kids) might be asked at Christmastime!
Head over to "Girltalk" and take a few minutes to read!
Santa seems to be one of those "traditions" passed down, but how many of us have actually spent much time thinking through just what we are celebrating at Christmas. Pastor Thabiti does a great job answering some tough questions as well as giving some great advice to us parents on how to handle the questions we (or our kids) might be asked at Christmastime!
Head over to "Girltalk" and take a few minutes to read!
Comments
Okay I totally just rambled...I think you know how I feel about Santa :)okay off to read the blog post!
It amazes me how much flack I have taken for this - even from fellow believers.
I just remember when I was a kid and found out that Santa wasn't real and that my parents had lied to me about it and gone to great lengths to prove that Santa had been at our house. They were just having fun and doing what they had grown up with, but I felt so betrayed by them when I found out.
I decided long before I had kids that I would never lie to my kids. I want them to believe what I say - about everything.
I am a rather cut and dried, black and white person so I am sure that also plays a part in my anti-Santa stance. :-)
So growing up we never believed in Santa! I never felt anything missing from Christmas! So of course we raised our family the same way!
I do however feel it was important to inform my children that even tho we didn't believe in Santa, some children did and they were NOT to discourage or tell them anything different, just tell them they didn't believe in him.
They will tell you that this was never a problem for them either.
I must admit, though, that in addition to having Nativities all over the house, I also decorate with Santas, and Snowmen throughout my house.
I think it is important for your children to know the TRUTH from day one...but that it is also okay to know that St. Nicolas was a real person (not the cartoon versions) and it is okay to remember him at Christmas.
For what it's worth...
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2137_jesus_tree/
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2141_thinking_about_santa/
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2144_if_not_santa_what/