From Santa to Christ – Growing up Christian

I absolutely love Christmas. I love everything about it, the decorations, the songs, the movies, the holly, the jolly, Santa and Jesus! I love it all. As a child, my parents did all the things. I was the only child for 6 years, so they did it up big, the tree, the lights and Santa. Although we didn’t have a fireplace that didn’t stop Santa, he knocked on the door every year until I recognized his boots and knew it was Alexander, a family member. Truthfully, that didn’t bother me, but the jig was up and that was the last year Santa knocked on the door. My childhood was filled with books and music. Every year I anxiously waited for December so my favorite two books would come to life on television. This was during the time when watching television was a family affair, my mom checked the paper tv guide and told me when it was going to air. I would grab my yellow rocking chair, my oversized book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and sit directly in front of the television. I still can hear my dad say, “Tricia, move back, you are too close to the tv.”  After Boris Karloff finished telling the story of the Grinch, I would eagerly await the airing of my 2nd favorite Christmas story. As commercials rolled, I would run back to my room and grab my regular size book, The Little Drummer Boy, as previously stated, I would read along as the story came to life on the television.

As an adult, I still love those stories and I still love Santa. Although, I knew very young that Santa wasn’t real I still loved the idea of Santa and still watch Santa Claus and Christmas movies today. Those two books and of course others, Rudolph, Frosty, the Nativity Story were my Christmas traditions. They show how powerful love is.  I learned from The Little Drummer Boy that I could please Jesus even as a child with the talents God gave me. My mom would read the story of the birth of Jesus every year. I knew it was a true story, unlike The Grinch, because she would get her Bible and read from there. Along with the tree and lights there was a Nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. My dad, who didn’t care for the whole gift giving part of Christmas, would sing the songs of Christ: Silent Night, O Holy Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to World and others (his voice was beautiful) while mom played, The Jackson Five Christmas Album.

I had the best of both worlds; I knew the truth about Christmas while also enjoying the whimsical part of the holiday. I learned early that Jesus is the light of the world, so we strung Christmas lights, I learned that Jesus gives eternal life and for His birthday we decorated an evergreen tree, that the wisemen gave gifts to baby Jesus, so we also give gifts to others, but Jesus is the greatest gift a person can get. I learned how awesome it felt to give to others. My mom taught me that Christmas wasn’t about material possessions but about love, joy, togetherness, and Christ. Although it took me a while to really get it, I, like the Grinch, learned that Christmas doesn’t come from a store and that maybe Christmas means just a little bit more.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father as the holiday season is upon us help us to remember that Christmas is about You and not about us. Help us to remember that this is not a joyful season for all and that we should consider those less fortunate during this season. Lord, help us not be selfish and unappreciative or even excessive in our spending. Help us to be responsible and remember the true reason for the season – Christ. Thank you, Lord, for sending Your Son to be an example to us and to save us. In Jesus name, Amen.
By Sis. Patricia Towns