no room for him

Over the years, some have actually felt sorry for our little ones around this time of year. I'll never forget the time some visiting relatives asked our, at the time, three year old son if he was excited about Santa coming. Little guy just told them Santa isn't real and kept playing. He must have surprised them because they seemed to be speechless. We understood early on that some would think it sad that we would skip the fun charade of the jolly old elf. Fortunately, He taught us early that our parenting wouldn't be shaped by the opinions of others.

There is no hostility towards St. Nick in our home. We even have a Santa ornament on our tree, he is reverently kneeling before the Christ child. And we have read the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" aloud to the kids. But we knew when the Christmas season approached, time followed the same rules that it did throughout the rest of the year...there's only so much of it allotted to each day. We are not such an organized team that we could fit in a celebration of the One who brought hope along with milk and cookies, reindeer hoof prints, and sitting on a strangers lap asking for gifts. Plus, we wanted our children to learn to be grateful early in life. How could they be thankful to us and their Provider if we gave credit to the imaginary? When we weighed our options of how we would celebrate the season, the Hope Bringer won easily. If we would only have time to celebrate one, it would be Him.

We have never regretted that choice. There has been no void of what is special and memorable. Santa has never been missed. Our schedules at this Yuletide are full and we've had no room for him. The Hope Bringer has deserved all the attention. He has delivered hope to us continuously. We just want to plant in these growing hearts an ever increasing celebration of the anticipation of the One who delivered hope to all. He is worth it.

Luke 2:10,11---"...for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour..."