tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481308113387216224.post4566626960761406577..comments2023-06-29T11:31:50.882-05:00Comments on Redeeming The Time: The Truth About SantaChris Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06547479663628572013noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481308113387216224.post-51668556013801895182009-12-12T10:17:25.061-06:002009-12-12T10:17:25.061-06:00Good post. We are just starting to wrestle with th...Good post. We are just starting to wrestle with this question this year.<br /><br />We've come to the conclusion that we'll tell them there is a story of Santa, but that's all it is - a story.<br /><br />The last thing we want to do with our kids is tell them that there is this Father Figure named Santa who is all-knowing and gives us good gifts - then as they grow up we tell them he isn't real, but there is a God who is all-knowing and gives good gifts and expect them to believe that!?<br /><br />Great point about modeling truth telling!Jasonhttp://redeemingriches.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481308113387216224.post-76683328693671904572009-12-10T13:24:50.020-06:002009-12-10T13:24:50.020-06:00Amen Chris! I agree with you 100%. Why try to pre...Amen Chris! I agree with you 100%. Why try to pretend (ie. "lie") that there's some jolly guy running around in his red satin pajamas handing out gifts to "good" little boys and girls. The truth of Christmas is SO much better! And for sure, modeling the truth to our children is of supreme importance.<br /><br />Thanks for the post. I think your position is the wise one for Christians to follow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481308113387216224.post-27275862003340762602009-12-10T12:23:13.961-06:002009-12-10T12:23:13.961-06:00Our family never felt this "dilemma" of ...Our family never felt this "dilemma" of should we tell our children that Santa is real or that Santa is make believe. My wife and I came from the Roman Catholic tradition and became believers in our teenage years. In the Catholic tradition, the origin of Santa Claus goes back to St Nicholas, a third century bishop and Christ follower who was know for his benevolence, goodness, and generosity, and lived out the words of Jesus to care for the poor, the sick, the needy. When our kids were very young, "Santa" came and brought one present for each child (unwrapped of course) and mom and dad brought the rest of the presents under the tree (wrapped). By the time the kids reached the age where they suspected Santa was not real and would ask, we simply talked with them about the true origins of Santa Claus and how the tradition began and how St Nicholas lived out his faith. It made for great discussions while our children were growing up. And simply carrying out St Nicholas’ tradition of giving gifts anonymously was fun and was a way to point to Christ, the reason for the season. <br />But Santa was never the center of our celebration of Christmas. We always had an advent wreath at the table (another Catholic tradition) read special advent prayers at each meal, had a manger scene prominent in our home, so truly, the Santa thing was no big deal. <br /> <br />Many in the church seem so obsessed with telling their children that Santa is not real, fearing that they will someday think that this "Jesus thing" is make believe as well. And yet when the children do become of age and begin to question "bible stories" (as they most certainly will) we use all kinds of explanations so it "fits" with the scientific secular worldview of things. Such as "Well, Noah really didn’t put all the animals in the ark but some of them..." and "Noah’s flood was only a local flood and not a worldwide flood..." and "the creation days, they don’t really mean days but long ages..." and "the creation order doesn’t fit the evolutionary order but God was just trying to tell us a story..." and "well, humans did evolve and Adam wasn’t really the first "man" but this was simply an allegorical story God was trying to tell us..." and on and on it goes. <br />There are far more important issues in the Christian faith than Santa Claus. My advice is to lighten up a bit and enjoy the season. Don’t make a big deal of Santa, and make Christ the center of your Christmas. Your kids will be grown and gone before you know it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481308113387216224.post-15912229210461024712009-12-09T21:16:14.126-06:002009-12-09T21:16:14.126-06:00That's funny! I'm always worried that my k...That's funny! I'm always worried that my kids are going to do the same thing. Great post!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17392451571353110046noreply@blogger.com