So I received some interesting feedback on yesterday's "Believing in Santa" post.
Most was supportive. However a few mentioned that because of Santa, Christmas becomes about gifts or taking rather than receiving. I also heard that without Santa then children do focus more on Christ.
So in response to that... Santa is a part of Christmas whether he should or shouldn't be. He just is! I mean what are you going to do...not take your children in public beginning in mid November through Christmas? You can tell your children he is not real and that is fine. But they are still going to see him everywhere. As for the presents- and children becoming greedy and focusing on all of the taking rather than the giving- I hate to say it, but gift-receiving is one of the fun parts of Christmas for everyone, not just children. I don't think most children are greedy, at least not the ones I know. But they are excited, very excited and they should be. Receiving surprise gifts is always fun no matter when it is. I get excited too. So unless the parents and family and friends are not giving said children any gifts for Christmas...how do you avoid this want/desire?
As for the giving, most parents I know spend lots of time on the "giving" part of Christmas and working with their kids. But by nature kids do not naturally know about giving. Geez, has anyone ever seen a bunch of 2 and 3 (and sometimes 4, 5, 6,7, etc) year-olds in a preschool class who all want to play with the stroller or the shopping cart? It isn't pretty. None of them are saying "Sure, go ahead Jackson ('cause you know there is a Jackson in the class) have a turn with the stroller." or "No really Ava, I really want you to have the shopping cart first." They covet and hoard. It's just the truth. So I think that giving at Christmas needs to be a fundamental whether or not you believe in Santa.
Finally, the part about Santa detracting from Christ. I have only known one family who has not allowed their children to believe in Santa. And yes, they are deeply religious. In general their children know lots more about Christ and the Bible than my children may ever know. But faith and religion are not one in the same. So is their faith stronger? Do they focus more on Christ? I don't know- possibly. But not because they don't believe in Santa. Maybe because they just talk more about Christ. Which of course is a wonderful thing. But in our home Santa doesn't substitute for Jesus. In fact, in our home we tell our kids that Santa works for Jesus. And in spirit he does.
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