My house was rearranged this year with a bit of downsizing and getting
rid of some furniture, so when it came to setting up my Christmas decorations
this weekend, I discovered that my routine of which items got stored away and
what pretty holiday decorations took their place had been greatly disturbed!
I found myself wondering the
house with Christmas décor in hand trying to find a new home for these
pretties! One such item was a porcelain Santa doll all dressed in white satin
and white fur with gold accents. It has a music box inside and the head and
hands move when it is wound up to play. I finally had found the perfect
placement for it in the living room, thinking, yep, that looks good there, and
grinned that I had at least achieved one goal. Now what to do with the rest of
the pretties!!!
The next morning, I was having my
hot tea while sitting on the sofa in the living room. I glanced up at that Santa and was
admiring my chosen placement for him. As
I was doing so, my eyes caught the framed art hanging above the Santa. It is
an old time print of Jesus overlooking Jerusalem by the artist Giovanni. Then I
quickly took in the whole décor look that I had created…Jesus picture hanging over
Santa Claus.
Hmm, I thought to myself, how weird
this placement happened the way it had, and with such meaning. It spurred this
blog.
The story of Jesus, his birth,
his death and resurrection has been around for 2000+ years and at one time the
Bible was in almost every home, and in most of those homes, the Bible was
actually read, church attendance was a must, and everyone in a community knew
who the followers of Christ were.
The history of Santa Claus,
originated from St. Nicholas the patron saint of children, is quite interesting
and can be read here: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus
As I continued looking at the
display in front of me, I pondered on something and became quite saddened. I
wondered how many homes today display Santa Claus and have no idea who Jesus
is. I mean, they don’t even really know a thing about him, not even his name.
Both names, Jesus and Santa
Claus, have been passed down through the centuries by families. One of those
names is the Savior for all people and nations. But the name Jesus is not
making it into every home like the name Santa Claus is today.
Nehemiah 9:16-17 (NIV) 16 “But they, our ancestors, became
arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.
17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the
miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their
rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.
Even back in the day, people were choosing to walk away from
God and were forgetting what He had done for them, in turn choosing a life of
ruin. Not much different from here in America today.
When the name Santa Claus becomes so prevalent in our homes,
he’s talked about, he’s glamorized, and wished upon, he becomes tied to greed
and idolization. (I don’t think the patron St. Nicholas would be too happy
about how this has evolved!)
When the name Jesus becomes prevalent in our homes, we are
training up our children in the way in which they should go, and they will not
depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing the Santa thing! I grew
up with Santa, he was fun, until I figured out that he wasn’t real. But Jesus,
his name, the Christmas story of his birth, Easter, and all the Bible stories
were taught by my parents. Jesus was prevalent in the home I grew up in, and
Jesus has remained very real to me, all my life.
It saddens me that children are growing up today in America
without knowing the REAL. They’ve never been inside of a church, their families
have long ago forgotten the God of their ancestors, and they are lost with
nothing solid to cling to, without a firm foundation.
Children need to know that God loves them, and that he will
never forget about them or leave them. Those in Christ are safe and have a
future! Isaiah
49:15-16 15"Can a mother forget the baby
at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may
forget, I will not forget you! 16See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.”
Even with all the presents, glitz and glamour that Santa
supposedly brings to us, there is no greater gift given to us than that of the
birth of Jesus from God.
People need to know that there is power in the name of Jesus
and his story should rank first in our homes, over the story of Santa Claus, so
that we do not fall to ruins.
Stay vigilant and tell the real Christmas story!
