When my oldest son turned three, my husband and I made the decision that we would not "do Santa" as a part of our celebration of Christmas. At the time, our now almost 11 year old was already grasping spiritual concepts, asking deep questions about spiritual and supernatural things. We felt that to present or encourage the story of Santa as fact would cause conflict in his mind and heart, and on top of that, we felt like we would be lying to him. Please note, in no way then or now do we look down on others who include the story of Santa in their celebrations, but felt it was not what we were to do.
Now seven years later we hold to that and everyone in the family has been quite content in that choice. This year, however, something new has come to my attention that serves as a further confirmation of this choice and it's really rooted in the following scripture passages:
Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself]. (James 1:17, 18 AMP)
Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! (Matthew 7:9-11 AMP)
When I was reflecting on Christmas this year, my heart was pricked with the realization that our Daddy WANTS to be seen as the Giver of Good Gifts that He is. He longs to be known, fully, to the deepest parts of his beautiful heart. It is so easy for the world and those who don't know Him to view him as a God of anger, wrath, or apathy instead of the good, loving benevolent Daddy He is... It is in this longing of His heart to be known rightly, that I find deeper passion to reserve the "Good Gift Giver" identity solely for Him, and to make him known in that way to my children, first, and also to others. Oh how many times, more than I can count, has He truly seen the deepest desires of my heart and miraculously and completely provided for them? I'm talking secret things no one else can know. He certainly isn't my magic slot machine that bends at my every earthly and fleshly craving, but truly knows how to delight me in ways that are good for me and bless me beyond imagine! I just long for my children to run to the Lord with the list of things they desire, holding them up to him who owns the cattle on a thousand hills; the One who did not see fit to withhold any good gift from us, including the most precious gift of His son, and know with all their being that their Father sees, knows, and will not disappoint their hearts even if the answer in the meantime is no or wait. He truly delights in showering us with his gifts of love!
So "to Santa or not to Santa" really ISN'T the question. Whether you choose that or not, consider testifying about the Ultimate Gift Giver as you know him. Or if you do not know Him as such , if you see Him as one who is or would hold out on you, or one who doesn't care about the desires of your heart, today is a great day to ask to get to know Him in that way....
Now seven years later we hold to that and everyone in the family has been quite content in that choice. This year, however, something new has come to my attention that serves as a further confirmation of this choice and it's really rooted in the following scripture passages:
Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself]. (James 1:17, 18 AMP)
Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! (Matthew 7:9-11 AMP)
When I was reflecting on Christmas this year, my heart was pricked with the realization that our Daddy WANTS to be seen as the Giver of Good Gifts that He is. He longs to be known, fully, to the deepest parts of his beautiful heart. It is so easy for the world and those who don't know Him to view him as a God of anger, wrath, or apathy instead of the good, loving benevolent Daddy He is... It is in this longing of His heart to be known rightly, that I find deeper passion to reserve the "Good Gift Giver" identity solely for Him, and to make him known in that way to my children, first, and also to others. Oh how many times, more than I can count, has He truly seen the deepest desires of my heart and miraculously and completely provided for them? I'm talking secret things no one else can know. He certainly isn't my magic slot machine that bends at my every earthly and fleshly craving, but truly knows how to delight me in ways that are good for me and bless me beyond imagine! I just long for my children to run to the Lord with the list of things they desire, holding them up to him who owns the cattle on a thousand hills; the One who did not see fit to withhold any good gift from us, including the most precious gift of His son, and know with all their being that their Father sees, knows, and will not disappoint their hearts even if the answer in the meantime is no or wait. He truly delights in showering us with his gifts of love!
So "to Santa or not to Santa" really ISN'T the question. Whether you choose that or not, consider testifying about the Ultimate Gift Giver as you know him. Or if you do not know Him as such , if you see Him as one who is or would hold out on you, or one who doesn't care about the desires of your heart, today is a great day to ask to get to know Him in that way....
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