Santa Claus, Reindeer, Elves & The North Pole
Acts 19:32
Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there.
Okay, sorry I have neglected my blog, just happen to be going through a valley right now. God is searching my heart and I am under His conviction. It all kinda started with this blog actually and it has been quite the ride. Well, as I digress, let us return our focus back to the topic of the blog, what is the real meaning of Christmas?
So to catch up I am taking the Santa Claus issue. Now it is quite obvious Santa is not a part of the original Christmas. Santa is certainly an imaginative creature yet he seems to have taken over the scene. Instead of teaching children at an early age to appreciate the reasons behind gift giving, we fill their minds with this man in a jolly red suit. As a mom, I used to get “jealous” of Santa because he received all the glory for our hard work as parents. He got all the thank yous as we sat back and worried about how we wee going to pay our bills since we had just spent our last penny on getting enough candy for the stockings.
There are several different stories behind the man in the big red suit, many of which have to do with giving and helping the poor. So to me the idea of Christmas with Santa is appealing as it was intended to help; yet so irrelevant to the birth of our saviour. Do we totally feel this is true today? Sure there are several ways to give during the holidays to those who are in need, however what percentage of our giving is to others? Compared to what we spend on our own families, what do we give to help others during the season of giving?
Then there are the elves and reindeer living with Santa in the North Pole. Now I could get creative and lead all these things into the Christian side of Christmas, however it is not the purpose. As I get closer to the day of Christmas I am still concerned at how little the focus is on the Baby in the manger. Children are excited for Christmas not because of the Hope which has arrived but because they will be visited by Santa who is bearing gifts for them, when in reality they only need one gift: Jesus.
How do we get back to reality? How do we turn our focus to the simple gift of Hope? It almost seems like Santa is too much to contend with. As I am searching my very own heart, I can tell you that I have yet to put up any Christmas in my home. I really am feeling drawn to just putting up a manger and calling it good. The manger is filled with such hope and promises unlike the things we have to display Christmas now. You never need to rearrange the ornaments or rewrap gifts, it is just there in all of its’ glory waiting for you to accept it for what it is: Hope. I think perhaps all the “Santas” out there are in need of some Hope in their lives.
Step Upon the Golden Road with Me! 
Amen sister! Good word.
Great idea, just the manger scene.