Santa!!! I know HIM.............

I love to think of Buddy the elf when he talks about Santa. Santa is definitely his hero. I need to keep re-quoting Elf until I buy the movie myself. I love it, and yet, don't own it. One of my favorite Christmas movies for sure. Probably my favorite Christmas movie.

"Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?"

"Is there sugar in syrup? Then, yes, I do."

"Watch out for the yellow ones. They are not nice."

Ok, for real. I am done. Someone please buy my the movie stop me already.

All this Elf talk has me thinking about Santa. (Santa's Coming.....I KNOW HIM......you are not Santa.....oh yeah, then what did you sing me on my birthday last year?) ok, really, I am done. Really.

This time of year brings up a lot of discussion about Christians and Santa and whether or not Christians should celebrate Santa, and have their kids believe in Santa. Unashamedly I am a Santa believer, and will be Santa to my children.

I have fond memories of waking up on Christmas morning, wondering where all of those presents came from. My parents did an AMAZING job of being Santa. Santa had different handwriting, different wrapping paper, only half ate cookies because he had a lot to eat that night, carrots were left for reindeer and we would find them out in the yard. Mom and Dad would ring bells outside as if Santa was landing on the roof. It was wonderful and magical.

And you know what?

I love Jesus. So very much. He is everything to me and I intend to keep Him the center of our family during Christmas time. We bought Caleb a Little People Nativity set. I have been going through the characters with him, teaching him (at a two year old level) who each character is, and what role they play in the story. For instance, the wise men come and bring Jesus (THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD---said in a really loud excited voice) birthday presents, and then Caleb and I sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. We have this amazing book, and we are reading him the nativity story. I want my son to grow up and celebrate Jesus. This is what this season is about. We will be reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve and will celebrate the birth of Jesus.  But, oh the magic of Santa!!

Our family will be a Santa family. (Still convincing Jon on this, not because he is not a Santa believer, but because he is not a gift giver). I want Christmas to have that magical feeling!

Like my friend Wendi said, Don't judge me, I won't judge you. I love Santa. Everything about him. Here's why:

1. On a very personal level, Santa in no ways hampered my love and devotion of Jesus, made me a more materialistic person or took my focus off the Savior. It was a time of childhood magic, receiving gifts (which is my love language) and celebrating with family.

2. We, as believers are to be in the world. Let's come alongside of the world during a materialistic time and hold the nativity and Santa in balance. It doesn't need to be either or.

3. Santa teaches mercy and grace. It is not about "checking the naughty list." Now yes, elves on the shelves and telling kids that Santa is watching their behavior may result in good behavior for a time, but let's be honest. Kids are kids. They are going to fail. They are going to misbehave. What a chance to teach mercy and grace. Mercy: not getting what you do deserve. Grace: Getting what we don't deserve. What parent buys presents for their kids and never gives it to them? What a great chance to talk about when we mess up, we fall, we seek Jesus ask forgiveness and He grants it. Santa is a tangible example. We mess up. We are sorry, Santa still gives gifts. Who knew? Theology in Santa!

4. The word Santa is not derived from the word Satan. It is most likely derived from the word Saint. And we know that Saint Nickolas was a real man, a giving and generous man. Why not use this as a time to teach about giving the way the original Saint Nickolas gave, and in turn, your kids can be blessed with some gifts as well. Teaching our kids about Santa does not take away from the nativity, but rather Santa exemplifies the grace, mercy, the generosity of the nativity.

5. It is a great lesson that we don't get what we want, and we don't always NEED what we want. This is where us as parents can bless our kids with some material possessions, but to say no to over-excess, no to  frivolous spending and attitudes that will make our children spoiled. There were times that Santa did not give me what I wanted, or gave me something that I did not want. Somehow, this was more justifiable when a relative gave me an unwanted gift, but Santa? He knew what I wanted, and didn't come through. It taught me that Christmas is not about what I get, but the joy in which I celebrate. The moment at which it becomes about me, I have lost the focus.

This is not a post to create arguments. I know that there are readers of this blog that disagree, some very close friends. I just wanted to share my excitement for the season and give some reasons as to why we do what we do.

When our children start asking questions about Santa, we will tell them the story of Saint Nikolas and how his legacy lives on today. And when doubts enter minds, Mom and Dad will work at ringing those sleigh bells outside on Christmas eve.

We will take our kiddos to visit Santa and add it to the scrapbooks.

We will talk about the nativity and what it means for us that Jesus came as a human being, just so He could die on the cross.

That is why He came right? No, I am not mixing my holidays up. He came to die. Generosity. Grace. Mercy.

And Santa is certainly a good present day parable to represent that mercy and grace.