What Is Christmas Magic?
We all have Christmas memories. Mine are probably as varied as yours. Lots of happy ones, and some lonely ones.
One year while in college, I did not have a home to go back to. I stayed in one of the dorms my college made available for overseas students during Christmas break. While lots of friends invited me to join their families, I decided to work as many hours as I could and declined the invitations. One of the jobs I had was working as a night watchman for a factory located in a nearby small town. I put in for a twelve hour shift from Christmas Eve through Christmas morning to get the overtime pay, and not surprisingly, got it. I thought it might also help take my mind off of it, being Christmas and the fact that I was alone.
That night, while making my hourly rounds, I had to walk an outdoor stretch where the plant bordered a neighborhood. I’ll never forget seeing through one of the house windows, a mom and dad making their way down the stairway loaded with gifts in their arms to sneak under the tree. I smiled, and remembered the excitement I felt as a child on Christmas morning. I thought about how when I was young, I’d be getting up soon (we were always awake before dawn on that morning!).
Excitement was in the air, at least for a few hours between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But I’m not sure it was a good excitement. The delight I felt was pretty self-centered. I was thinking about what Santa Claus was bringing me. I was eager to find out what I was getting, I wasn’t even all that interested in what my siblings were getting. It was all about me.
I’m afraid that while the Christmas story is the greatest example of selfless love, it conjures what is often described as a magical feeling, but is based on a lot of selfishness. Maybe we adults have grown out of that and it is fun for us to give to our kids, and one another. But I’m afraid we tend to teach our children a faulty message regarding the joy of Christmas. How many of them are as excited about Jesus’ birth as they are about Santa Claus?
I’m not trying to pick on Santa. If you want my opinion on this legend and whether or not we should pass it on to our kids check out my blog from November 29, 2009. I just want to encourage you to focus on Jesus. Find some creative things to involve your kids in serving others. Of course, give them gifts, but teach them to be happy for their siblings in what they receive, and through it all, to be a blessing to others. Also, to take the time to tell all of the wonderful stories of Christmas found in Matthew and Luke’s accounts. Let’s raise our kids to be more excited about giving then about getting, and especially the meaning of God’s precious gift, His Son Jesus!
Isn’t that what Jesus taught? (Acts 20:35)