How do you deal with Santa Claus?

[Guest]

Would you direct me to the sites, TK?

It never occurred to me that Isaac Watts had any coming in mind other than Christ's birth ----- And me a futurist!!!

I suppose that was the only meaning for me, since the hymn is usually sung more often during the Xmas season than at any other time.

But then, come to think of it: "No more let .... thorns infest the ground," doesn't sound like his first coming --- but it could be the distant ramifications of it.

[Guest]

here are a few sites:

http://www.learnthebible.org/Joy%20to%20the%20World.htm

http://www.ucobserver.org/archives/dec05_special.shtml

http://ccm.gospelcom.net/hymns/detail/j ... rd-is-come

http://www.fpcjackson.org/resources/ser ... _world.htm

of course, i didnt take the time to research these sites and/or their affiliations. they just mention the second coming angle.

TK

[Guest]

Paidion wrote

Sad to say, many children who have been taught to believe in the reality of Santa Claus, later in life, put belief in God or Jesus in the same category. You never see either Santa or Jesus.

When I was a kid and realized there was no Santa I approached my mom about it. She said his spirit was in our hearts.

Not too long after that I asked my mom where Jesus was. Likely not remembering her answer from a few weeks earlier she replied "he's in your heart". I immediately equated that Jesus' reality was on par with the fictitious Santa and that we merely have both of their spirits within our hearts ....whatever that meant.

We decided to keep it simple with our daughter. We tell her the truth. I also let her know that if she wanted to have fun pretending the idea of Santa she can. Just like she pretends being a princess or doctor or pretending that stuffed animals can talk etc... She's 8 years old now. Today my wife called out to our daughter "there are presents under the tree!"....Our daughter yelled out "Santa's come already!!"...I yelled out yeaaaa!! She can still have fun with it even though she knows it isn't real.

Our way of handling it may not be perfect....but then again, do we ever do it perfectly! Excluding our Heavenly Father of course!

Danny wrote

I endeavored to always be open and honest with my son. I wanted him to know that if he asked me a question, I would give him a straightforward answer (age appropriate, of course). He is 19 now (where did the time go?) and seems to feel comfortable asking or telling me anything. Last Summer he came home from a camping trip and told me he had gotten drunk for the first time. Rather than freaking out, I asked him what he thought about it. "I don't understand the appeal", was his reply. "Me neither", I responded.

I don't attribute what I consider to be a very good level of communication (certainly better than I had with my parents) to not doing the Santa thing. Rather, our decision to not do the Santa thing was part of a larger decision about how we would raise our child. Your mileage my vary...

My sentiments exactly. We always want to keep that door of communication open

[Guest]

Always speak "truth" to your children just make it simple.