Skip to main content

Bah Humbug has a nice ring to it

Shocked is something I hardly experience anymore. I suppose my travels across the states and in other countries has left me somewhat hardened over the actions of others. It is not that I do not care about what people do, but I am no longer surprised at other people's follies and attitudes. With this in mind, there are rare occasions that cause me to think "what in the world are they doing? "  You see, not long ago I was in a store with my kids, when I heard an elderly lady ask my six year old son, “What is Santa bringing you for Christmas?” His response was classic, “Santa is not real!” Immediately her eyes glared with shock and a little bit of anger. She then proceeded to argue with him that Santa is real. This altercation only lasted a few seconds, but she ended this trivial debate by saying, “Well! Good children get their gifts from Santa, and bad kids get their gifts from their parents.”

I bit my tongue hard. Though I am not sure whether I would have yelled back at her or just busted out laughing. It amazes me how many people I meet scream over how intolerant “liberals” can be yet when it comes to Santa Claus, they make sure you know that you should show reverence to the idea of him or at the very least play along with a smile on your face. I have heard all the same arguments over why I am a terrible parent because I don't teach my kids that an all-knowing, cookie eating, and out-of-shape do-gooder gives them gifts. Then, for some odd reason, I had to take the time to purchase and wrap those gifts. Of course, Santa is not enough for some people. Now they need a reason to destroy their homes and blame it on a little creature. No, I am not referring to the movie Gremlins. I am referring to the weird and growing fad of Elf on the shelf.

Some people have seen very little. They are living in a first world country and have not realized that promoting Santa should be the last of concerns, during Christmastime. Am I the stick in the mud, the knot on a log? Am I the Grinch and an unconverted Scrooge? Yes, I suppose I am and I am better for it. I hear people talk about how I am not letting my children be kids, because I am stripping away the magic. Magic? Are you serious? I never knew there were so many learned wizards in America. With every child that will receive gifts under the artificial ruse of Santa , there will be three in this world who do not. Does this make their childhood “null and void”? Those who speak of the “magic of Christmas” need to be honest with themselves and realize that they are only reliving fading memories through their kids. American kids love Christmas. You know why? Is it Santa or elves and reindeer? Hardly. Let's be real. They love Christmas because they get presents. That's it. The “magic” is materialism. Do you think they would care about a bearded fat man who smiles, if he did not have a selling point of giving them whatever they want?

Probably, the only reason some parents fight hard for Santa is because they cunningly use him as a way to make their children behave. Many grandparents love this as well, so of course they will fight for Santa since he is their subtle nanny. I had someone once argue the point that teaching Santa to your kids is good, because he is like God! What nonsense! Of course, I have known of some teenagers who came to equate the jolly old man with God, but sadly they came to reason that if Santa was just a cute fable, then God was simply a myth as well. If anything, the teaching of Santa distorts the gospel in the eyes of children. It is probably never thought of but are we not creating a false idol, when we tell children that there is someone else other than God who knows all and can practically be everywhere present? Are we not diminishing the teaching of God's grace, when we tell kids that they will not get gifts unless they are good throughout the year? James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (ESV)

Don't be so quick to write off Santa as harmless fun. Now, I realize that he is partly inspired by the real life of St. Nicholas and there have been some who point out this fact so they can feel good about their decision to "fib" to their kids. Yet, you'll be hard pressed to ever find them telling their children about St. Nick as much as Santa. Would it not be more beneficial to tell kids about an ordinary man who wanted to share the love of Christ in an extraordinary way? Instead of magnifying Santa and how they will get awesome gifts if they are good, why not magnify the fact that we are all called to give of ourselves and as Christ said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”? (Acts 20:35) This is what made A Christmas Carol such a wonderful read. Scrooge learned to give. I know I previously wrote that for kids in America, the “magic” of Christmas was materialism, but my aim as a Christian and a parent is to show my kids that the joy, wonder, and “magic” of life is being spent, through the Spirit of Christ, on the needs of others.

Finally, in no way do I have some kind of disdain for people who teach their kids about Santa. Sadly, I realize that for many, it is one of those unwritten rules. They grew up with it and that is really all they know. My beef is with those who feel that it is their obligation to remind you that you are a Grinch, if you don't celebrate the way they do; and with those who look at kids, who don't acknowledge Santa's existence, like they are deprived and empty. As if Christ is not enough to have a Merry Christmas! Alright, I think I am done venting...for now.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wanderers

One night I dreamed of a massive crowd aimlessly wandering through an empty town I tried to stop several people as they passed by But they paid me no heed, as If deaf and blind Finally I happened upon a somber, yet curious lad He asked me, “What brings you to the Town of Misled?” I said, “I'm not sure how I got here, nor for what reason.” “Well then” The boy smirked without hesitation “You're in good company alright, for we are all met with the same plight. Our vision is impaired, our understanding is empty. Indeed we are stuck in endless mediocrity.” Once more I looked around at all the hollow expressions Then stared back at the tattered boy with deep compassion “What can I do to help you and all of these poor souls? Perhaps some money for food, a strong education, and fine clothes?” The boy began to cry, while shaking his head “You don't get it sir, we already have plenty we possess. Our needs lie not in material wealth and f...
1 comment
Read more

Star Light

I remember, when I was a child, my brother and I wanted to camp out in our front yard. We even talked our friends into joining us. We begged our parents to let us sleep out under the stars without a tent, because it would not rain that evening. It was somewhat foolish, but we were not thinking about the insects, strong winds, or even the morning dew. We just thought it would be fun to sleep outside. I think we lasted a solid hour in the dark, but once the cold wind blew and the mosquitoes landed, our imagination dissipated and we ran back indoors. Though we didn't stay out long, I do remember the stars that night. They were unusually bright and seemed to crowd the sky more than any other night. I don't think I will ever “grow out of” being in awe over the beauty of stars. I don't believe King David did either. He wrote in Psalms 19, “ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made. One day tells a story to the next. One night shar...
Post a Comment
Read more

FANATICS

 In Carthage, there has been a lot of talk lately over the High School's new Big Screen in the Football Stadium. It is one of the largest HS Football Screens in America. There was an interesting article about it on Yahoo sports. It costs roughly around $750,000. Statistically, around forty percent of people in Carthage claim to be Baptists (Not just Christian, but Baptist). Yet, I find it so amazing how many people here idolize sports, paticularly Baseball and Football. I am certainly not seeking to piously condemn the whole city. I enjoy many types of sports, but I pray my enjoyment and fun for them never turns to an ever-increasing fixation. Instead of the screaming fan on the sidelines whose face paint is slowly dripping off with a mixture of sweat, I consider myself to be the guy who gives a couple of approving grunts and simply tips his hat, when the game is over. What about you?...
Post a Comment
Read more