Santa Are You For Real?

As a family we have never made a big deal about Santa.  We watch Christmas movies, we place one present under the tree from Santa, and place cookies on a plate as part of our Christmas Eve bedtime ritual.  My children know Jesus in the meaning of Christmas.  Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when they are old they shall never depart from it!"  We read the story about Jesus's birth countless times throughout the Christmas season.  Jesus is the reason we have hope and joy.

I have never liked being legalistic and therefore teaching my children that Christian's have no fun.  While discussing this matter with a friend recently, I began thinking.  How can I tell my children the truth about Santa without taking some of the excitement away from Christmas.  Whether this book was a gift from God, or just happened to be on the shelf at the church library, waiting to get my attention, I'll never know?  Although I know God provides all avenues for His children who seek wisdom.  

Last night we sat around the Christmas tree and read two books.  The first book was The Night Before Christmas, and the second was Santa Are You For Real?, written by Harold Myra.  This is the first time I have seen or heard about this book.  I showed the book to some women at Bible Study, and they said, "Awe,  I loved that book, I read it to my kids and grandchildren over and over again!"  I thought "if some of the wisest women I know love this book, there must be something special about it".  Last night we read it as our "Christmas tree story" for the evening.  I loved this book!  I highly recommend this book to all people with kids or grandchildren.  This book made Santa more "real" to my children, but didn't negate from the true meaning of Christmas.  My children now know the amazing story of St. Nick, and what a Godly man he was, and how he secretly gave gifts to people in need.  He sought people in need and secretly provided gifts in the middle of the night.  He gave the gifts at night, because he didn't want thanks.  He wanted to show them God's love with no strings attached.  The book itself shares the reason for St. Nicks kindness.  He loved the Lord so much, he wanted to share God's love, and by doing so he gave gifts secretly to other's in need.  One of my favorite quotes from the book, "Of course, some children know all about Santa, and presents, and reindeer, but forget all about Jesus.  To St. Nick, that would ruin Christmas!  Jesus was Nick's whole life.  You see, the real St. Nicholas is now in Heaven with Jesus.  And all the Santas you see in stores and on sidewalks remind us of St. Nicholas and the reason he gave gifts - because Jesus came the first Christmas, to give Himself for us."  After reading the book, my middle child, Christopher says, "Santa is real, he's a real angel!"  I thought "wow, that is brilliant thinking for a 6 year old."
For our family, Santa is more real to us than ever.  Santa wanted us to serve God to the fullest and desired for us to give to other's in need.  This Christmas, as a family, we have decided to show God's love to our neighbors and friends.  My kids' are eagerly and frantically coloring as many Christmas pictures as they can.  On Christmas Eve we are going to tape a candy cane on each picture and take them around to as many of God's children as we can.  If you receive a similar gift on your door, "Was it a gift from Santa?"