Can you imagine if it was your birthday and a friend offered to give a birthday dinner in your honor?
You pull your car up the driveway and there are lights with your husband’s name on them. Arriving at the front door, you’re greeted with a wreath welcoming a neighbor. When you get inside, the whole house is decorated with pictures of the host’s favorite musician. When the birthday cake is brought out, it has someone else’s name on it. Gifts are given to another person, not you. Happy birthday is sung with someone else’s name. As you leave, the host gives you a pat on the back and says, “Oh, Happy Birthday. I hope you enjoyed your party.” You leave wondering why she called it your birthday party. It clearly wasn’t.
I can’t help but wonder if that is how Christ might feel with the heavy emphasis on Santa Claus, Elfie, and reindeer.
I can’t help but ask the following questions:
- Why not fill the boughs of our Christmas tree with nativities, angels, bells, and lights that honor Christ? Otherwise, why not call it a Santatree?
- Why not excite our children’s minds with the true story of Luke 2:1-14 and how Jesus came from heaven and angels sang rather than repeatedly repeating how Santa rides through the sky with reindeer?
- Why not tell our children how the wise men followed a star to find Jesus and when they did, they gave Him gifts; that gift-giving is in honor of Jesus’ birth?
- Why not fill our children’s minds with the truth that Jesus can be anywhere all at one time and can appear through closed doors…just like Santa and even better?
- Are our children and grandchildren as aware and excited about celebrating Je
sus’s birth as they are Santa Claus? If not, what could we do to point them to Christ this Christmas?
EXCITE YOUR KIDS with FACTS about JESUS
What Kids Are Told About Santa: | Are We Telling Our Kids the Following About Jesus? |
Sees you when you’re sleeping | Sees you when you’re sleeping |
Knows when you’re awake | Knows when you’re awake |
Knows if you’ve been bad or good | Knows if you’ve been bad or good |
Able to appear through closed doors | Able to appear through closed doors |
Has innumerable gifts to give | Has innumerable gifts to give |
Has the message, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night” | Has the message, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” |
Never dies | Never dies |
Has magical power | Has supernatural power |
Elves work for him | Angels work for him |
Has reindeer that fly through the sky | Has myriads of angels that fly through the heavens |
Loves children | Loves children |
Knows our name | Knows our name |
Invites children to come and talk to him | Invites children to come and talk to Him |
Is man made | Is God made – is God! |
SING SONGS about JESUS
Look over the following list of songs. Do your children know more songs about Santa or about Jesus? Which might you teach your children to direct their hearts to Christ’s birth?
Santa | Jesus |
Jingle Bells | Joy to the World |
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer | Angels We Have Heard on High |
All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth | We Three Kings |
Santa Baby | Away in a Manger |
Jolly Old Saint Nick | Joy to the World |
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus | Mary, Did You Know |
Jingle Bell Rock | Silent Night |
Here Comes Santa Claus | Oh Holy Night |
TELL “TWAS the NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME”
Which story can you recite by heart? How might you read the Christmas story with more enthusiasm and excitement to capture your children’s attention?
Santa | Jesus |
Twas the Night Before Christmas | The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-4 |
DECORATE to HONOR CHRIST
Santa Decorations | Jesus Birthday Decorations |
Sleigh bells | Bells on Priest’s Garments, Exodus 39:25-26 |
Reindeer | Angels, Luke 2:13-14 |
Santa give gifts to good little boys and girls | God gives us His Son.John 3:16.Wise men gave gifts to Jesus. Matthew 2:11 |
Rudolph’s red nose guides Santa’s sleigh | Star guided wise men to Jesus, Matthew 2:9 JJesus is the Light guiding us to God, John 8:12 |
The North Pole | The Nativity, Luke 2:7 |
IMPLEMENT TRADITIONS that HONOR CHRIST
-
Make a birthday cake with Jesus’ name on it and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
- Read the Christmas story before opening presents.
- Set up nativities and let your children act out the CHRISTmas story.
- Wrap presents in paper that has Christ-centered symbols – angels, the manger, stars, etc.
I wonder how Jesus would feel if He came to our house on Christmas Eve or day. Would our home be decorated in His honor? Would our children know Christ centered songs? Would they be fascinated and excited to visit with Jesus? If not, perhaps it’s because we haven’t yet given them the vision of the true all powerful One whose birth we celebrate.
How do you keep the focus on Christ in Christmas?
I’d love to hear from you!
In Christ’s Joy, Debbie
Spreading the Word and Love of God
*Excerpts from “PREPARING OUR HEARTS for CHRISTMAS” by Debbie Taylor Williams
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