We all went to see the Santa last eve!
Mike's work booked out the evening for all of their employees...another great perk!
But my disclosure is that I'm not all about Santa. More about Jesus. So I won't talk about Santa much with my kids. It just gets too confusing to me. I divide myself so easily (and want Christmas to serve me with material things rather than a Savior). And I want my kids to be sure what Christmas is about. So my heart needs to stick with Jesus. Call me boring, unimaginative but I need to do what feels right for my heart and for my kids. Sorry, Santa.
OK, more about my soap box... I've been thinking it over. ;) And this is also just for the purpose of ME working it out in my mind. I'm always been completely stumped by the stranger at the store who asks my kids if they've been a good little boy or girl for Santa (we haven't talked about that with them in regards to Santa, so they certainly don't know what to say). Of course, we want and teach our kids to obey us, to obey God. But at the same time, I certainly can't live under the view that we get based on how we've done and I don't ever want my kids to believe that rewards are performance based or worse, earned/deserved (sure, I am guilty of this all.the.time. I definitely treat them differently based on their behavior. But I wish I didn't.) I'd be in big trouble if I had to earn favor. I want them to know that they can go to Jesus anytime, not only when they have been "good", but more importantly, when they haven't. (I SO struggle with this!) I certainly don't want a reason to re-inforce this behavior based approval. We are always safe once we are in Christ.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:5b
(for the full context of Romans 14)
Maybe I'm just the weaker brother, and I'm OK with that.
I hope this doesn't come across too strong, its just something that hasn't had to totally be worked out yet since our kids had been so young. But it feels more like a decision year this year. And
for the record, I am not at all opposed to others doing Santa for their kids, its just not my "thing". And of course, our kids will get gifts at Christmas. :)
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