Sunday, 29 November 2009
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As the Christmas Season Begins...
By Sharon at She WorshipsNow that Thanksgiving is over the Christmas season has officially begun! I’m proud to say that this year I managed to hold off listening to any and all Christmas music until now, and I successfully avoided the Black Friday madness once again. Although I admit that the latter didn’t take much convincing. On Thanksgiving Day Ike and I were driving to my grandmother’s when we heard a commercial belittling other store sales that waited “as long as 7am to open.” This particular store, on the other hand, proudly opened at 4am! Seriously?!? This has gotten out of control!
The Christmas season has also launched me and Ike into a debate about whether or not to tell our future kids that there’s a Santa Claus. When I was little and discovered that my parents had been lying to me my ENTIRE LIFE about Santa Claus, I felt very much betrayed, so I’m having some serious misgivings about doing the same to my kids. Not to mention the fact that Christmas is about Jesus, not Santa. Ike, on the other hand, doesn’t feel so strongly about Santa, and wonders how it will work out practically speaking when other kids are talking about Santa and our kids are the party poopers who burst their bubble. I guess we’ve got time to figure this stuff out, but let me know if you have any insights.
There is a lot of craziness that surrounds Christmas and it’s largely a distraction, but I wanted to share with you one thought as we enter into this season. Since I lost my grandfather two weeks ago, I’ve found it really difficult to listen to Christmas music. He loved Christmas music more than anyone I know, so it’s been hard for me to listen to it without crying. My heart aches inside every time, which makes me even more sad because I love Christmas music so much myself.
I imagine Christmas is like that for a lot of people. While it’s a time to rejoice, we’re also reminded of loved ones who are no longer celebrating with us. It can be very bittersweet.
The one thing that has comforted me during this time is to focus on why it is we observe Christmas; just what it is we’re anticipating. Hope. While I miss my grandfather so much and our traditions will now be tinged with sadness as he is no longer with us, I’m simultaneously reminded that the reason we celebrate Christmas at all is because of the hope we have in God’s redeeming work through Christ. This little baby would one day die and rise again so that we no longer have to despair or mourn. And this little baby also reminds us that those who have gone before us are singing songs to their Savior which make Handel’s Messiah pale in comparison.
So if you’re like me and you’re missing someone right now during this joyful season, I want you to know that you’re not alone, but I also encourage you to take heart. The reason we celebrate is because we have hope. God has come near, and death is not the end of the story. That is why we sing!
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About the Author
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- From: sheworships
- Name: Sharon
- About Me: Sharon Hodde Miller is a North Carolina girl, born and raised! She is originally from Charlotte, NC, and she received her undergraduate degree and Masters of Divinity from Duke University. Sharon has worked for Proverbs 31 Ministries where she was a contributing writer to the ministry’s daily devotions and radio broadcasts. She has written for Relevant Magazine’s online articles, Lifeway’s Collegiate Magazine, Ungrind Webzine, and she continues to write and minister to women all over the world about being a Christian woman in an ever-changing culture. Sharon currently lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, who is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. If you would like to contact her regarding a speaking or writing opportunity, if you have any questions, or would like to submit a blog topic, please e-mail her at sharon(at)sheworships(dot)com.
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Comments (7)
Aww...good post. Be at peace.
Great post. Keep your eyes fixed on Him.
On Santa Claus, my parents raised me believing in him, but I didn't feel betrayed when I found out he wasn't real. I just thought it was kind of funny, but maybe I'm a weird kid. I've also heard this argument against Santa: "if they find out we're lying about Santa, will they think we're also lying about God - neither can be seen!". I'm not sure how valid this argument is 'cause I wasn't really raised believing in God, well, I was, but I wasn't. Complicated.
My roommate on the other hand is a PK. Her parents told their children that most of the other children believed in Santa and not to ruin their fun - their parents might get angry. But, that Santa wasn't really real. I haven't really asked if they ever told kids just 'cause it'd be "fun". A friend of mine did that to me when we were discussing Santa. She knew the truth and told me. Although, I wasn't sure if I should believe her or not. *shrugs* I'm not sure really if I want to tell my kids about Santa or not. If I told them the truth of it though, I'd probably do it how we do it now that we're older and obviously know Santa isn't real. We know he's not real, but pretend like he is. My mom still says "Santa Came!" on Christmas morning. haha
Great post - as Christians we do indeed have Hope - not just in the baby who came, but in the Saviour who one day will return and restore the earth as an inheritance for His people! There's great hope at this christmas time, but yes, it can be tinged with sadness. Our friends will be celebrating this Christmas without their 2 year old son. It will be hard for them. But they have the Hope - and that is what we all should cling to. Peace to you and yours this Season!
As for Santa, my parents taught as kids that Jesus was first and foremost why we celebrated Christmas. We knew the stories of Santa - and we always understood that they were just stories, myths of a make believe charachter .......although the older we got, the more we understood the tradition of St Nicholas, which is a true story worth telling!
There was no disconnect for us at Christmas time either because we didn't believe in Santa. Our gifts came from our parents, and that was good enough for us as kids, and is good enough for our kids now. I don't think we missed out on a "magical" (as I've heard it said) part of childhood because we didn't believe in Santa, and our kids don't miss out either. We have more of a reason to celebrate anyways!
I believed in Santa Claus and it never hurt me. When I learned Santa wasn't real I found it easy to make the transformation of a real Santa into the concept of the joy of giving. I'm also happy I was allowed to read Mother Goose and other fairy tales. I learned a lot of lessons from those stories. Only you and your husband can know how to raise your kids but your point that your children would be in conflict with other children is something to consider. I think children need their fantasies. I used to talk to the flowers in our yard when there were no kids to play with. Somehow I felt they knew I was talking to them.
My spouse and I have decided that we will do the Santa Claus thing but at the same time tell my daughter the truth from the start and treat it as a tradition. I think it is a great opportunity for my one-year-old daughter to learn, early on, to respect the beliefs of others even though they might not agree. I want to teach her to treat the Santa Claus tradition the same way that I wish atheists would respect belief in God.
As a Christian I choose NOT to celebrate Christmas, the origins being what they are. The whole thing with Santa to me is a deception, certainly not to be fostered or foisted upon my kids!
I do enjoy many of the songs associated with Christmas such as Silent Night, Handel's Messiah, etc., which are wonderful to sing regardless what day of the year.
It makes sense to have something during the darkest days of the year that lifts people. As a social thing, it makes sense. A living Christ, however, far outshines any traditional practice. My hope would be that Christ Himself would replace the need for such a time of the year until every day is just as wonderful.
I do not believe that in the coming kingdom there shall be such a thing as Christmas. But as Paul said in Romans 14, some celebrate some days above others, while some celebrate all days alike.
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