Santa can be a divisive issue. It seems kind of crazy…that a
pretend gift giver in a bright red suit could be so controversial, but there
are lots of opinions about the jolly guy. Christmas specials insist that he
ceases to have power when we stop believing…a false idea some Christians
transfer to God. Others lament that children lose their innocence when their
belief in Santa wanes. And yet I remember a pastor of mine that once shared
that they didn’t tell the “lie” of Santa to their child because what if the
child grew up to believe Jesus was a lie her parents told her as well? I
thought this line of thought was intriguing since I grew up with Jesus and
Santa and clearly could tell the difference in how my parents talked about
them.
Now I am a parent, and I have to figure out what to do about
Santa. I realized quickly that obliterating Santa from the start was going to
be a tricky enterprise. Strangers, family members, adults of all sorts would
ask my kids if they were ready for Santa…before they even knew who he was (My
two year old had no reference for Santa.). It was easier to play along. But
even then there was a problem. In my family’s tradition of Santa, he was in
charge of delivering the things one needed. Parents got the joy of delivering
toys and things wanted. My kids were often confused that Santa brought them
socks and their friends new bicycles.
My very clever daughter figured it out last year. “Is Santa
real?” she asked. This is not a question that comes up unless your kid knows
something is up. I decided to come clean.
“Well, he was real. The story goes that he was a wealthy
man. One night as he walked through the streets at night, he noticed a window
was open of a poor family with no money for the dowry for their many daughters. Santa took some coins and threw them in the window, and they landed in the wet
socks hanging to dry at the fire place. The girls now had money to get married!
He did things like that because he followed Jesus. But he died a long time ago.”
“But the magical guy…he’s not real?” she asked.
“No…but he sure is fun to pretend in. Adults like to pretend
he is real because he is so much fun, and we don’t want to ruin that for them.
There aren’t many times adults get to use their imagination like that.”
She loved that answer. It made sense. Mostly because it is
true, I think.
This year she asked an interesting question, “Mom, can I be
Santa this year?”
I told her yes. I know it is unorthodox, but she is super
excited to pick out toothbrushes and underwear for everyone. She already has
been researching everyone’s favorite candy. I can’t help but notice she seems
more excited about “Santa” this year that she ever has been before.
I don’t know if I am doing the right thing. Often we don’t
as parents. I do know that I am proud to have a daughter who still likes to
pretend and allows others to pretend as well, who knows that Santa was a Christian, and who wants to give like he did. Maybe
that is enough.
