The Truth About St. Nick....

On the 5th of December, we were talking about St. Nick and how he lived his life in charity and humility for Jesus....Julianna wanted more information than I had to offer, so to the computer we go g-o-o-g-l-e dot com...St. Nick....http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=371. As I read to the girls, we came upon the date that he died. Boy could you see the gears turning in her little head, 'so he died, so he died, so he died...', I wondered how she was sorting all the info. in her head, but didn't say anything and neither did she. We mostly talked about how he lost his parents and was very wealthy and chose to spend his life loving others to Christ through generosity, kindness and gifts to the poor in spirit and needy. Then, we talked about how we could do this everyday and live with the same spirit, the Holy Spirit, in our hearts. We prayed that He would come and help us to see others needs both physical and spiritual and be guided to act on it, instead of remaining complacent and just feeling sad for others.
(Mike and I have followed the tradition of having the girls put their shoes out and waking up to treats on St. Nicolas Day (Dec. 6th), it is usually something simply this year it was small bag of mini m&m's, a lip gloss and another piece of candy. It is a fun tradition and the girls love it.)
Back to the Julianna story, things were great and fine until she got home from school the next afternoon and it was just her and I for awhile...the questions or comments (those things that she decided were truth based on the info. I had read to her)...
Julianna: 'So mom if St. Nick is dead and Santa Claus is just like him then who brings us our Christmas presents?'
Me: 'His helper.'
Julianna: 'The Holy Spirit is everyones helper, so the Holy Spirit brings them.'
Me: 'Not exactly.?.'
Julianna: 'Well you said that we could all be like St. Nick and so I KNOW we can all be his helper, right?'
Me: 'Right'
I couldn't lie...
Julianna: 'another thing, mom, I know that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the only ones that can be everywhere at the same time and Santa was just a man but he had the power of the Holy Spirit--he wasn't the Holy Spirit.' (all said in one breath, very matter-of-fact.
Me: speechless
Julianna: 'So, I think that you and dad are Santa's helpers and we can all be....I know that cause I saw Emma's Easy bake oven in the back of the van last year, I accidentally took the cover off of it and saw it....'
Me: Well, you have it all figured out, don't you?

It was really a relief, we were feeling a little bad about playing into the whole commercialized secular holiday that has become Christmas. We want to follow the example of Christ and St. Nick and to bless others and to see the true meaning lifted up, not the what am I getting, this is my list, is this all I get? mentality...
It would be okay for us to not get a thing and to go serve the lost people who are struggling with addiction, and it would be far more honoring to Christ.
Don't get me wrong, we are going to give our girls a stocking and a couple of presents, but our perspective has changed. I have always felt so guilty at the thought of having a small Christmas spread for our kids, so at the last minute I lay everything out on our bed and it just never seems to be enough--then I go out to Walmart or Target and buy 'filler stuff' with next months money so that the tree won't seem so bare. Shame on me...I was reminded of a simple song, it's chorus is 'I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it, cause it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus.'
That's what I want for my girls, I pray grateful hearts and content demeanor'.

P.S. This is not to condemn, it is just where the Lord has brought my heart. There is nothing wrong with gifting loved ones or buying presents for your kids and going along with the Santa tradition. I just pray that through the Advent and Christmas season that all would be blessed by the coming and presence of Jesus Christ and that all would be moved to be his hands and his feet and willing to listen to His spirit as it leads you to show His light to the lost, weary and forgotten.

Peace.