When I was young, I believed in Santa.

Not in the way that most kids did. I new there was a story behind the big fat elf, and I knew the various versions of it all led back to one thing- mostly belief in something I couldn’t see. I knew it was my parents for the most part, and I figured it out at a young age. I didn’t blow it for the other  kids I knew who still believed. I just went along with it.

As parents, my husband and I played the Santa game, too. Our kids had a gift from the jolly guy, and we put our names on the rest, so they knew mom and dad cared, and it was important to us to give to them. Once they were older, and they figured it out, they too kept the secret for the sake of others, and managed to keep the spirit of the big guy alive in our home and family

When the annoying elf came along, I was seriously appalled. Parents wanted to “get away from the Santa lie”. Because moving an 8″ doll around every night for a month and being creative about it is a better lie?  The only thing he has been teaching kids is to be good so he doesn’t have to tell on them, for a short period of time during “the season”. Once Christmas is over- they can go back to being their regular selves.  Not to mention the added pressure of keeping up with one more thing for over stressed parents. This elf, in either male or female form, will never replace Santa. He just doesn’t have it in him, and I think he’s kinda a jerk for being a tattletale.

The things I learned from my Santa experience were such good foundations for the rest of my life.

How to have faith in something I couldn’t see. I learned how to have a little, and give a lot. I was taught to patiently (?) wait for something, and to have a certain expectation of a love wrapped morning on Christmas day. It was never about the gifts, the wrapping paper or the bows. It was always about building up our faith, our love and our family memories.

Santa was in every mall, yet he was also at the North Pole. He was an all knowing, everywhere, sacrificial elf, making childrens dreams come true and helping parents reach a special place in their childs heart that may have been unreachable during the normal hustle and bustle of the rest of the year. He was a great way to start a conversation with a stranger, and a recognizable figure in most households, whether they believed or not. He continues to be a symbol of Christmas joy and cheer, and his smiling face and jovial laugh are always a welcome sight in the busy moments of the season.

The best part of Santa and playing that game? It continues today with our adult children, and our grand-babies. Our kids still get a ‘Santa gift”, our grand-babies are starting to get old enough to be taught all those virtues, and Santa will once again open the door to  a place in someones heart that is only reachable this month. Using Santa to teach about Jesus is such an incredible gift. We can take all of those cool things he stands for, and teach our next generation about faith in God. We can teach them about baby Jesus and his grand entrance, we can teach them about sacrifice, giving to others and unconditional love.

The best part of the Santa lie- we can use our powers for good. We can use the power of Santa and his goodness to convey the love of Christ to someone this season. As for that little elf? I’d love to see him left on his shelf, right where he belongs.