The deception of Christmas gifts

In the Robinson home, we don’t do Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny or Halloween, for that matter. I know, some must think I’m a boring, rigid parent. On the contrary, I like fun, celebrating, gifts and candy. At the same time, I try to take advantage of opportunities to teach my 4-year-old daughter about God, what it means to represent Him and be His servant while eliminating worldly distractions. As I train her, I often find that God is teaching me as well.

Recently, while sitting in her car seat, she said to me, “Mommy, I want to go to heaven while I’m 4.” For a split second my heart stopped. I could not imagine what I would do or how I would respond if God took her away when she was 4. Of course, I did not let on to her that Mommy was wrestling with deep thoughts concerning the implications of her statement. I did not want to destroy the blessed hope that she has of going to be with Jesus in heaven. I simply smiled and responded, “That’s nice, baby.”

Did she understand the gravity of her statement? I think she did. I think she understood that even in this life - where all of her needs are met, where she gets some of the trimmings, where she has two loving parents living in her home, where she regularly enjoys learning and playing at school and church - even with all that Jesus has something better to offer on the other side and she looks forward to being in heaven with Him.

Is this why Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it?”

Jesus’ words have a special relevance during the Christmas season, this time of gifts and abundance, for the spoiling of kids. I pray that I never blind my child or offer her so much that she treasures her life on earth more than the eternal life that awaits her in heaven. I pray that I am not so blinded by my own stuff that I forget the hope and promises that await me there.

Because the thought of life in Heaven is so far above my understanding, I know it is tempting to forgo thinking about my eternal home. In this season, let us not forget that we are citizens of heaven and heaven does await our arrival. This is the gift of Christmas. My daughter is anticipating her arrival there. The convicting question is: Am I? Are you?

(Image courtesy of George Eastman House.)

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Comments (15)

We dont need a holiday to share truth. We don't need tinsel, lights and 'gifts' to explain the ultimate Gift.
If you have never listened in on an discussion between a parent and a verbal autistic child, it can be quite the bizarre experience. - a whole different planet of parenting. 

Santa had never been considered a staple of Christmas in our house until this year when my son suddenly was seduced to the Santa side of "What will Santa bring me?" Usually he gets a present from "Santa at hubby's company party and that is the end of Santa except for seeing him in malls etc. This year he was overloaded on "What will Santa bring me?" asking over and over and I realized that he had bought into the myth. This is the kid who refused to give up his DNA to the tooth fairy and threw his tooth in the trash when his teacher wanted him to bring it home to put it by his bed. :) 

When I tried explaining that my son should not think about getting from Santa but being more like Santa and give to other people without getting anything in return I realized I was using biblical language. 

Yes I admit, I actually said "You should be like Santa to other people." not "You should be like Christ to others." I needed more coffee and he is still working on a concept of God/Jesus. 

But is it not true that the mythology of Santa allows non-Christians to engage in the abundance of selfless generosity that is also part and parcel with Christmas? We all, non-christians included give to food banks and Angel trees and homeless shelters, donate mittens, coats, sleeping bags. We see the excess and it stands in sublime contrast to the suffering of the world. Does it matter if we give like Christ from the the abundance of God's love or that we give in the spirit of a fun and generous Saint Nicholas, secretly with no requirement for reciprocation? What matters is that we give to those who have little from the abundance with which we are blessed.

If only we remembered to live each day like this.

wow, great reminder. that child of yours is going to change the world!
Wonderful post! Your daughter sounds absolutely precious. One thing I dislike about Christmas gift-giving, especially as it relates to kids, is that they get the idea it's all about them, and what they want (thus the Christmas wish list). How much better to teach them that it's all about others to the glory of God. And I don't think we do that by giving more stuff to people who already have plenty.
December is always so busy. Makes us forget that it's supposed to be a time of reflection on God loves for us, huh?  Thank you for the reminder! We all need to be reminded everyday on His purpose and the truly meaning for Christmas.  We get caught up on our busy lives and forgot to thank Him on all His blessings.
What an amazing insight and frame of mind from a child, Though I suppose it is intuitive, but rarely expressed. She vocalized Paul’s desire “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.” Our lives are a vapor, but heaven, the life of the Spirit, our coexistence with angels is the more durable reality. I want to live with this consciousness every day and every moment, not simply be reminded from time to time about my eternal home or spiritual realities. Here is reality: “ Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians  and  “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians
Keep praying for that, Lesa dear. Love
Wonderful reflections, Mara. I completely understand about having a child bombarded from the "outside" elements. We do that best that we can and just God throughout this parenting process.
It is true that it is hard to balance the outside influences and still make life fun and directed according to our values. I have an older daughter who asked a question similar to your daughter's at a similar age. Luckily we weren't driving. We had been explaining the death of a great-grandparent. She too decided the spin on heaven sounded like a vacation and wanted to go see Great-Grandpa. When we talked to her further we found out she lacked a firm grounding in the concept of the permanence of death and that heaven was a one way trip. She wanted to visit and then come back to her life and her toys.

Now with our son we are waiting until he understands that the cat that died 2 years ago is really not just in another room, until we really dive into explaining heaven. He doesn't like the idea of throwing out toys either. "Cats live forever and all toys can be fixed." - The gospel according to my son. ~ I wish ~
Refreshing to be reminded that, as a child, we can all long for, be more acquainted with, and represent our heavenly and eternal reality. Thanks for the good word and your heart. These are the words of a disciple, not just casual Christian gobble-de-goup that is so prevalent in our day. May we all be so deeply attached to our heavenly reality, this season and beyond, that those around us want to know this God that we love and know. Let us enjoy the closeness with our Lord that the Holy Spirit offers us.

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