Santa Will Come if You Believe

 

Gift from my brother.

 

My kids’ laughs warmed my heart every time they asked me if Santa was real.  I simply allowed the Spirit of Christmas to be; a response filled with wonder.

“Mom, is Santa real?”

“Santa will come, if you believe.”

The intrigue is powerful.  It invites the imagination and desire to understand. Intuitively I knew when my kids were younger that their question about Santa was only the beginning of what they were about to embark on.

“How can Santa be real?  He lands on the rooftop and brings presents through the chimney to me?”

That just doesn’t add up in a kid’s mind.  Yet somehow, the idea of believing and the joy in anticipation of giving and receiving, sprinkled the sparkle and shine through our eyes, as we stared at each other in amazement.  There was no argument.

“If you believe, you will receive, because Santa bring gifts.”

Our family

Santa’s role in the true meaning of Christmas has great similarities.

“Mom, is Christ real?”

“Christ will come, if you believe.”

The intrigue is powerful.  It invites the imagination and desire to understand. Intuitively I knew when my kids were younger that their question about Christ was only the beginning of what they were about to embark on.

“How can Christ be real?  He lands on my heart and brings the ultimate present of salvation through my belief in Him, to me?”

That just doesn’t add up in a kid’s mind.  Yet somehow the idea of believing and the joy in anticipation of giving and receiving, sprinkles the sparkle and shine in our eyes. There is no argument.

“If you believe you will receive because Christ is our gift.”

Comparing Santa to Christ can create a simplified story for your kids. It’s the “spirit” of Santa and the Spirit of God that we compare.  We don’t see God and we don’t see Santa (when he comes down the chimney). God gave us Christ as a gift.  When we believe in Christ Jesus as our savior, we believe that because of Him we will have eternal life.  Christ’s Holy Spirit indwells in us at the point in which we tell him we believe in Him. Our belief puts us in relationship with Him through His Holy Spirit.  Teaching our kids to read His Word so that they can come to know Him is critical in understanding who God is, why Jesus had to come and how the Holy Spirit indwells in us.  Santa brings gifts in spirit of guardians, Christ brings gifts in Spirit of God.

Every Christmas in the midst of decorating, shopping and in social gatherings, I love seeing Jesus in the spotlight.  Churches are filled with families worshiping.  They put on their “best dress” to honor the newborn King.  “Wow!  Is this some kind of fantasy?”  Not merely a whisper of such nonsense.

Reverence of the One, the true and glorious Savior.  In awe and wonder our souls react.  Softness fills our souls. Our breath slows and peace fills our hearts.  Wonder and fulfillment. If only, beyond our senses we could know. But we do and at the same time we question.  Through God’s Son, his Holy Spirit fills our hearts with joy.  The concept is easy to grasp yet hard to fathom.

The little Lord Jesus

 

His Majesty, filled with wonder, all for us. If only each and every one of us will follow, wholeheartedly and be in relationship with Him.  In all His splendor, guarded by His Word, in all our actions, listening, wailing, crying out for joy, of joy, with joy, immeasurable, Majesty awaits you in all of His glory.  If only the  belief of the coming of our Lord and Savior resides in all of us, if only we believed.  He will come.  His temple, swaying, moving, watchful, longing.  Peace be with you, and to all a good night for Thine is the Kingdom now and forever.

Amen