It’s Baby Jesus AND Santa Time!

The competition is real! Baby Jesus versus Santa! I’ll admit it. I cringe a little when Jesus and Santa get the same “top billing”. THE One is very real and the other is make-believe and THAT one’s promises are based on what someone delivers or not. I was amused when at my church a couple of weeks ago, St. Nick (the original “Santa”) was in the Parish Hall for those sweet, traditional “St. Nick aka Santa” photo opportunities. Then, at church in Austin, Santa showed up for photos, too. I get it. It’s a subtle way for families to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth and give them photo opportunities. Lately, good old St. Nick aka Santa, in all his red and white glory, has been seen at churches, malls, and holiday parties. Man! Does Santa ever get around!!!

We sure boost the support of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to our children. They learn that a mysterious guy in a red and white suit can see them when they’re sleeping and awake. He even sees them when they’re good and bad, so we reinforce that they’d better be good….for goodness sake. We take them to see Santa and encourage them to tell him what they want for Christmas. And, if that’s not enough…..we tell them that he’s coming down the chimney and he’ll show up with their wishes – so they must be sure to leave cookies for him because he’ll be very hungry as he flies in a reindeer-driven sleigh, delivering his gifts to children all over the world. And, to further spoofing them, many folks will go to their rooftops and make stomping sounds, while ringing sleigh bells. Doesn't that make your brain go TILT, even just a little bit?

I encouraged honesty in my children from the get-go, not giving a second thought to the possibility of dishonesty about Santa. Oh, how I wish I had given them the true story of a mythical Santa who was clearly founded in St. Nicholas who honored Jesus Christ with his life and his possessions. St. Nicholas (St. Nick) gave freely of his riches to benefit those who were less fortunate than himself. "Giving” is clearly one of Christianity's guiding principles in Scripture -- to care for the poor. Now, being much wiser and thriving on honesty and truth, I look back and think “What were we thinking?” I desire to be honest in all my ways, so that those who follow my lead, are led closer to THE LIGHT than are being led astray. Truth is TRUTH – NOT stretching the truth, or “It’s so cute to see those little wide eyes of wonder."

Some may think this is a crotchety ole' gal’s reality, but, in reality, it’s the closer I get to the Baby in the Manger Who became my Savior, the more I want to be like Him, full of grace and TRUTH. “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

My little “Holy Family” and sign that says “Born this day, a Savior Who is Christ the Lord” seems like a meager attempt to celebrate THE ONE who Christmas is really all about. Hopefully, someone will see it and their attention will be drawn to think about the real Reason for the Season, but no question It seems lost amidst the gigantic Santa inflatables around the neighborhoods.

“Mommy, is there really a Santa Claus?” is a question that families ponder each year. I pray you seek God’s wisdom on how best to explain to them in “grace and truth”. 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in TRUTH." And if TRUTH is told – may we give our families a True Story of love, peace, hope, joy, and compassion – the TRUE Christmas Story. What is easier to believe – Santa Claus or that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to earth as a baby, to a lovely couple and the shepherds and wise men came to see him and when they saw him, they worshiped him because he was the newborn King who would set them free - WHO SET US FREE? Christmas IS NOT a holiday. It is a HOLY DAY! May we honor the HOLY One Who really did come to give us the greatest gift -- Himself.

God is Really, Really With Us

I've become an avid "noticer". A noticer is one who observes, notices, and pays attention to details -- not one like my husband who would notice and identify flaws in home construction or a musical composition and performance (just ask my Staci about how he "noticed" everything -- like the sound quality, her word pronunciation, or the tempo of the music). I became a "noticer" when I became a Technical Writer and Editor for various publications, but mostly of late I've become a "noticer of the most important things like one who recognizes God's nudges as well as His touches in the mainstream of life that point me in the direction I should go or tell me what to say. I've sure been a noticer during this season of Advent and Christmas. That word seems to be encased in the traditions of Christmas.

I’ve noticed the words I wrote under some of my Christmas treasures that were purchased to “remember” special times. I noticed my family in the many Christmas pictures I’ve scattered throughout my home. Because of my precious mother-in-law’s distribution of so many of her treasures to me and others, I’ve prominently placed mine where I see them every day. I notice them. I notice words in scriptures that I never noticed before. I'm in good company with my “noticing”. The shepherds were noticers of the angels who broke the news of their Savior's birth. The Wise Men were noticers of the star that led them to the Christ Child. And, Mary was a noticer and ponderer. Luke 2:19 says (after the shepherds departed): "And Mary pondered (noticed) these things in her heart." I like that -- and I desire to follow Mary's lead, as well as the shepherds and Wise Men – to notice and ponder.

I like to think that noticing is a part of seeing, hearing and sensing God WITH US. Don’t you love the word “with”? As I wrote that first paragraph, I sensed my husband “WITH” me when I remembered His noticing. I remembered His many hours of coaching our daughter with her music and performances. “WITH” is a powerful word. “Will you go WITH me?” “Stay WITH me.” Here’s the greatest news that Christmas brought us. It brought us God in human flesh. Isaiah 7:14 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel (God with us). GOD WITH US!! In Matthew 28:20 the man, Jesus, said before He ascended into heaven, “Surely I am WITH you always, to the very end of the age." There were no caveats when He spoke those words. He didn’t say, “If you do this or that, I’ll be with you.” “If you go to church or if you give to the poor, I’ll be with you.” No, none of that. There are no requirements given to us. He is with us. God is with us.

So, in my pondering and noticing and remembering……I realize GOD IS WITH ME. In our times of fear, stress or worry – God is with us. In times of feeling lonely or forsaken, we must not forget – God Who Knows all, sees all and even felt all -- is with us. We’re not alone. When we understand and respect that Emmanuel is with us, then even the thoughts we think are what God is wanting us to think, ponder and notice. Maybe they are just not random thoughts but bulls-eye-target thoughts where we are to be God’s representative to our world. We can be on purpose to be aware that God is with us and in us to be His "light" representative. That means as His representative we convey His attitude, actions, and character in and through our lives. God gave us more than miracles and messages. He sent Himself; He sent His Son. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14. He wants us to NOTICE that He really is WITH US and be bold as His ambassadors to tell the world "God is with us"!

It’s Baby Jesus AND Santa Time!

When I put Santa and Jesus in the same paragraph in my post a few days ago, I honestly quivered. It made me stop and think about how we boosted the support of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to our children since they were infants and could barely see or hear. They learned that a mysterious guy in a red and white suit could see them when they’re sleeping and are awake. He even sees them when they’re good and bad, so we reinforce that they’d better be good….for goodness sake. We even take them to see Santa and encourage them to tell him what they want for Christmas. And, if that’s not enough…..we tell them that he’s coming down the chimney and he’ll show up with their wishes – so they must be sure to leave cookies for him because he’ll be very hungry as he flies in a reindeer-driven sleigh, delivering his gifts to children all over the world. And, to further spoofing our innocent children, many folks will go to their rooftops and make stomping sounds, while they are ringing sleigh bells.

As you just read that paragraph, did it cause your brain to go “TILT”? It sure did mine, because for years I led my own children to believe in the myth of Santa Claus and his reindeer. Not until I became a grandmother did I realize how untruthful I had been to my children. What a shame that their role model -- modeled dishonesty. How could I expect truthfulness from my children when I was being untruthful. It's one thing to encourage imagination and another....outright dishonesty.

Now, as a much wiser woman who thrives on honesty and truth, I look back and think “What were we thinking?” I desire to be 100 percent honest in all my ways, so that those who follow my lead, are led closer to THE LIGHT than are being led astray. Truth is TRUTH – NOT stretching the truth, or “It’s so cute to see those little wide eyes of wonder."

You may think this is a crotchety ole' gal’s reality, but, in reality, it’s the closer I get to the Baby in the Manger Who Became my Savior, the more I want to be like Him – full of grace and TRUTH. John 1:14 says “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, Who came from the Father, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH."

My little “Holy Family” and sign that says “Born this day, a Savior Who is Christ the Lord” seems like a meager attempt to celebrate THE ONE – that Christmas is really all about. Maybe someone will see it and hopefully it will draw their attention to think about the real Reason for the Season, but no question it’s lost amidst the gigantic Santa inflatables around the neighborhoods. Here’s the truth that MUST be told to our families and especially to our children, from infancy and on. No question that the imagery of jolly old Santa provides many moments of Christmas joy – especially when we’re propping those little ones in his lap for that annual Christmas photo. The mythical Santa was clearly founded in a man who honored Jesus Christ with his life and his possessions. St. Nicholas gave freely of his riches to benefit those who were less fortunate than himself. "Giving” is clearly one of Christianity's guiding principles in Scripture -- to care for the poor.

“Mommy, Is There Really a Santa Claus?” is a question that families ponder each year. I pray you ask for God’s wisdom and how best to explain to them in “grace and truth”. 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in TRUTH." .And if TRUTH is told – may we give our families a True Story of love, peace, hope, joy, and compassion – the TRUE Christmas Story. What is easier to believe – Santa Claus or that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to earth as a baby, to a lovely couple and the shepherds and wise men came to see him and when they saw him, they worshiped him because he was the newborn King who would set them free - WHO SET US FREE. Yesterday my pastor said "Christmas IS NOT a holiday. It is a HOLY DAY! May we honor the HOLY One Who really did come to give us the greatest gift -- Himself."