Your children know everything about you. They see when you are sleeping, they know when you have been good or bad, they know when you pout and when you shout. In the midst of the turmoil of life your children know whom you delight in. Your kids know all of this without you ever having to say a word. When you stumble and ask God for help — they learn. When you stumble and snap or make excuses — they learn from that, too. If you value your relationship with God above all else, your children will know this, even when you fall short of your calling as a Christian parent.
What does this have to do with being Santa’s helper? At Christmas time, for little children, someone is portrayed as doing the most marvelous things. Santa brings the toys! Not just any toys, but toys that come in brightly wrapped boxes under a colorful, sparkling tree. These toys have been longed for, prayed for, craved for, hoped for, and wished for. The goodness of Santa is confirmed by the tag on the present: From Santa. Amid the pile of wrappings, bows and empty boxes, happy children know they have been adorned. When I was a child we left milk and cookies for Santa each Christmas Eve before we went to bed. And sure enough, when my brothers and I bolted out of bed to head for the tree, the milk and cookies were gone. In their place were presents and stockings. Santa was for real!
Children who experience this visit from Santa feel adorned. Yet this adornment is clearly of the material sort. The children don’t really know “Santa.” But they know his helpers, as I did as a child. His helpers? Why Mom and Dad of course! When Mom and Dad help Santa, good things happen. Toys pour down from the chimney and appear under the tree.
However, if Mom and Dad are Christians, they often say they are somebody else’s helper. That’s right, parents are also God’s helpers. This brings a question: whom would your children rather you help? Do your children feel the same sense of adornment when you are God’s helper as they do when you are Santa’s helper? Proverbs teaches that these opportunities for discipline and teaching are to be times of “adorning your children” as with the finest jewelry, just like Christmas time. Even discipline and correction should feel like adornment to your children. Sadly, most children feel anything but adorned by their parents’ discipline and correction. On the other hand, Santa’s helper brings longed for treasures.
The contrast is not lost on a young child. Don’t misunderstand; I am not saying, “Don’t discipline or don’t give presents.” But the Bible teaches that you can discipline in such a way as to adorn your children. Try the special combination of Proverbs – discipline and pleasant words mixed together (Pro. 16:20-24). This is a powerful combination. Verse 24 says pleasant words promote instruction. Pleasant words should dominate your day-to-day verbal instruction and discipline. This is not always easy, but with Christ’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit you can be a different parent — one who adorns at times other than Christmas.
Teach your children that One more wonderful than Santa loves them and has given them parents to teach them about Christ and true riches. Don’t confuse your children by helping a mythical visitor. Tell them that you love them because Christ has loved you. Tell them that your God has given you a rich blessing – your children. Let them know that the gifts they receive are expressions of your love to them. Adorn your children at Christmas. Adorn your children on May 14th and August 3rd, as well, and every other day. Let them know that you are Christ’s helper to bring them into relationship with Him. Tell your children what true riches are. In addition to the gifts that you wrap, adorn your children with gifts that are more valuable than silver and gold. Show them the excellence of being Christ’s helper.
This Christmas, whose helper will you be — Santa’s or Christ’s? Blessings to you this Christmas Season!
This is a post that we offer each Christmas. I pray that it will serve as an encouragement.
3 thoughts on “Are You Santa’s Helper?”
Well said! God bless you & yours!
We wanted our children to know the true meaning of Christmas as Christians. We taught our 3 boys Santa was just for fun because we didn’t want them to think Santa loved other children more by giving more to them. Jesus is the reason for the season. Therefore they were always thankful for the small gifts they did get.
I appreciate your perspective. I’m a relatively young mom, but my biggest reason for NOT teaching my children that Santa is real is because I believe God gives children “childlike faith” so they will believe in HIM. And if we abuse that precious gift, it could cast a shadow on other things they have believed in without seeing, including God Himself. May God bless your ministry!