Something happens to kids during the Christmas season, and although I’ve been taking it all in stride with jolly remembrances of my own childhood in mind, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have moments of red-hot frustration.
Little kids, and heck, big kids too, get super excited for Christmas time. There’s a big tree in the living room with tons of sparkly baubles to move around. There’s cookies, and music, and so many parties. With presents! So many presents.
I’m the biggest kid of them all this time of year, and I get excited too, but nothing compared to my girls. They get wild, and perhaps the extra sugar is to blame, but regardless of the specific cause they are like tiny, chattering tornados. They’re quick to get into mischief, and slow to listen.
What better way to keep kiddos in line than to pull out the old Santa card. After all, he sees you when you’re sleeping, and he knows when you’re awake. He even knows if you’ve been bad or good, and now his buddy the Elf on the Shelf helps ensure you’re good for goodness sake.
It’s perfect, and parents will tell you they readily use the “you better be good if you want presents” line to keep hyper children from killing them slowly with their ill-enacted excitement. I certainly do, but today I realized I’ve been doing it all wrong.
It came to me as my young daughters argued over a toy, and their screeching voices carried into the other room. It was their billionth fight of the day, and tense after only being able to handle so much crying in a given day I called out, “If I were you I’d be good. I’d be worried I wouldn’t get any presents for being so bad!”
Beautiful silence answered from the other room, but then I felt God speak to my heart. “Is that how it is Brie?” He asked softly.
I pondered to myself, do I even deserve this gift of Christmas? I certainly haven’t earned my salvation.
While I love the excitement of Santa Clause, and the magic he brings with his sackful of presents, I wonder if I’ve missed the mark in properly presenting the true spirit of Christmas.
You see, some 2000 years ago a child was born of a virgin, and He would be a gift for all mankind. When He died on the cross as a man He did so to save me. Me, a sinner. His gift did not come with conditions, and no matter how “bad” I may be He still would have died for me. Conversely, no matter how “good” I am this is not what earns me the present of eternal life with Him. He gives it because He loves me, and I accept it humbly.
I found myself sitting down with my daughters and trying to explain a few facts I had missed. As the eldest listened wide-eyed I explained my love for her, my unconditional love. I told her of Jesus and the gift of His life given despite our “bad” behavior.
I explained that even if she wasn’t always her best that Christmas presents would still come to a grateful heart eager to receive. “We give out of love because that’s how Jesus taught us to give. I don’t want you to be good because you want something. You are good because you love me. But presents will come either way.”
Perhaps she will remember my words, or perhaps she was distracted by Rudolph on the TV. But either way I decided that from now on she deserved to be taught how Jesus works, not the world.
We’ll still do Santa, but our Saint Nick will have the character of Christ rather than a man with a list marking off his children based on their deeds.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
*My Dear Readers,
If this post seems familiar to you, it’s because it’s a blog I first wrote four Christmases ago. I decided to resurrect it for the new friends who have joined our journey together.
I still hold firmly to the above belief. I don’t try and manipulate my children’s behavior using Santa threats, and it’s worked great for our family. We are a home built on grace, and we all, as children one way or the other, obey out of love and discipline.
Have a Merry Christmas friends, and be blessed for the great gifts given to you despite your (all our) missteps along the way.
In Christ,
Brie
Dave says
In this era when it seems every commercial on television wishes to use Christmas decorations in their commercials for (I assume) stirring up cheer and happiness to make you want to buy and give their products but won’t dare mention the day for what it is, the birthday celebration of our Lord, I try my best to keep from shouting hateful statements about their stupid pc decision in their commercials! It wouldn’t bother me so much if they didn’t steal the decorations which signify that they know it is Christmas! But Jesus understands how this world is and he understands my bad decisions when I don’t act right either! God gave us his only Son as a sacrifice for our stupid decisions! All of them when we accept Him as Lord! Children who have parents who teach them of that magnificent gift God gave us over 2000 years ago are so blessed! I pray for those who will celebrate what to many of them is just another holiday that they may glean the truth of what Christmas is all about! As you said Brie, it shouldn’t be used as a behavior tool but a reminder to our little ones that God gave His Son to make us a new person through Christ Jesus! Unto to us is born a Savior! Thank you God for your awesome gift!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Amen!
Lisa Pierce says
Beautiful! I hope you and your family have the most blessed Christmas ever!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!