tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post7212831768267735045..comments2017-06-12T16:59:18.354-04:00Comments on Gaffner Chaos: Yes Blog World, I believe in SantaKatie Gaffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07389603858545280233noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post-42908932621387459432010-12-04T17:57:05.952-05:002010-12-04T17:57:05.952-05:00WOOTWOOT!!WOOTWOOT!!ROBIN (FAMOUS)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post-26338198952878597892010-12-04T13:41:03.159-05:002010-12-04T13:41:03.159-05:00I completely agree Lauren and was just talking to ...I completely agree Lauren and was just talking to my High School friend Robin about this (Robin there's your 15 minutes of fame... haha). And that's exactly what I believe is important. Not lying. We don't tell our kids that Santa is watching. We don't lie about it, we just make it silly and fun. Don't know if that makes sense. Do we watch Christmas movies? Yes. We love ELF :) And we spread out the reindeer food and make the cookies but I have never tried to force any silly story on them. I'm such an honest person that I couldn't lie even if I wanted to. <br /><br />I think fantasy is important. Imagination is important and that's we do. We allow ourselves the silliness of playing pretend but we have never done so at the risk of lying to the kiddos or making Santa seem the same as Jesus. Because you're right, it's not and should never be compared in that way to Christ. <br /><br />I think part of the balance of parenting is allowing our kids to imagine and play while still keeping them grounded in the truths of the Word. <br /><br />I hope that is what I do with my kids.<br />And seriously, I do LOVE the whole concept of Santa, the silly factor, the pretend and fun. It's a part of some of my favorite childhood memories. And I hope to pass on that same joy to my kids while still keeping them rooted in the foundation of the truth that is God. <br /><br />So all that to say.<br />:) <br />That I completely agree with all you said Lauren and I think we're on the same page. Maybe I wasn't clear in my original blog, of course I was afraid I had already written too much, lol. But though we participate in the "Santa" stuff, we don't lie or over-emphasize it. We keep it real. We keep it fun. And somehow we manage in the midst of our consumer driven world to keep it about Jesus.<br /><br />Hope that makes sense, and that you don't think I'm heathen... j/k :) Love you too Lauren! Wish we loved close enough so our babies could meet and play!Katie Gaffnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07389603858545280233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post-5867715081665224232010-12-04T10:42:17.924-05:002010-12-04T10:42:17.924-05:00(the second part of my own blog post on your blog ...(the second part of my own blog post on your blog - lol...I always was too wordy)<br /><br />We take the holidays to read them books about Jesus and His work correlated to that time, not just about turkeys or bunnies or other things. And music, too. While all gifts from God should be enjoyed, they should point us to Him. I don't think that playing thousands of songs primarily about Santa and gifts, making the gift giving the thing they are most excited about during the season, or whatever else is glorifying to God. <br /><br />There is so much in life that is good but that has become a distraction (subtly for most of us) from Christ and the reality of all that is spiritual. This includes even blogging, movies, friends, etc, so I'm not just picking on Santa nor the people who place him in their holiday traditions. LOL. But, I do think we must be careful and guard our souls and our childrens. It is our job to do all that we can to help them see the value of Jesus and not learn to love and adore other things more. <br /><br />You're right - it is a daily thing, too. No day should be about us, or gifts, or anything else primarily. It should all be about Jesus. I remember a friend telling me about my wedding day, "It is still not your day." I would enjoy it most by living it to glorify God. So I agree with your part about our day in and day outs - <br /><br />Is Jesus being elevated as our highest joy? And is that what others see in us? Never completely, but let's strive for that :) <br /><br />Thanks for your post, Katie! Love you!Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post-67101057505741794462010-12-04T10:41:26.046-05:002010-12-04T10:41:26.046-05:00Hey, Katie! I shouldn't make my first comment...Hey, Katie! I shouldn't make my first comment a disagreement - but since I know you are open to this stuff and I think you trust my love and respect for you, I hope you're okay with it! <br /><br />Daryl is such a truth speaker that he won't even do surprises for me where he has to lie to get me there, etc :) I'm all for surprises and I thought this was silly at first, but he and I both agree that with Santa it is a lie we perpetuate over and over and for the sheer purpose of entertainment and perhaps because we are tempted to believe that without this part of "christmas" none of us will enjoy it as much.<br /><br />But when Christ is elevated as our highest treasure we are promised to have the highest joy - and, the Bible is clear about always speaking the truth. If you don't have to lie to keep Santa in your house, great, but if you do, how do you justify that against Scripture? <br /><br />We also don't want our kids to ever be able to look back and think we weren't truthful with them and not trust us for something important (but that's a secondary issue and my parents telling us about Santa didn't do that to me).<br /><br />So we have told our kids the story of St. Nicholas and how it has involved in our culture (as much as they can understand), but we don't make it the highlight of Christmas (same with gifts or anything else) or allow them to believe that he is bringing them gifts or watching them. When I was little my brother was explaining to me that Santa was "just like Jesus". He could see us everywhere, etc. My mom immediately informed us of the truth. Not only is Jesus the only one who can see us all the time, He doesn't reward based on our works - sheerly out of His mercy. <br /><br />We also believe Christmas is a great time to use to teach our kids about the value of Jesus and provides SO MANY teachings about the reality of Christ - not just fantasies that won't satisfy in any comparison. While the actual holiday isn't in the Bible as you said, the birth of Christ and the mystery of God become man is all over to help us understand the great love of God for sinners and also how we are to be like Jesus once we have been changed by Him (by giving, by telling the truth, etc). <br /><br />So Christmas for us is wrapped up in Christ as much as we can - as well as Thanksgiving and Easter and even Valentine's Day. So we let our kids paint Santas or rudolphs or bunnies or what not, but we elevate Jesus the most. And we minimize the other things MUCH in comparison and at age appropriate times discuss why our culture uses those other things and how we believe much of them are to distract from Christ.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post-18158276050943217942010-12-04T10:39:31.041-05:002010-12-04T10:39:31.041-05:00Well said.
And, it's been my JOY seeing my &q...Well said. <br />And, it's been my JOY seeing my "scrooge of a son" return to Christ, meet his helpmate(who is full of the JOY OF CHRIST) & along with her & their family ENJOY emphasizing Christ in celebrating life to the fullest.Whether it be "trunks of treats" at Halloween or the Jolly Ole Elf at Christmas!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03071204325704762602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112375094417352694.post-69251556741686758792010-12-04T10:04:29.889-05:002010-12-04T10:04:29.889-05:00And just for clarification purposes.
I don't ...And just for clarification purposes. <br />I don't for one second believe that it is okay to participate in sinful behaviors and to consider that be the "middle road". Sin is sin. Beyond that we have to decide that if we are personally convicted of something to do away with it. And that's what the Santa debate is all about... personal conviction. We make choices to participate in, watch, sing, etc things that may or may not be directly scriptural or Christ-focused. It is the constant work of the Believer to do that which will draw us closer to God, not further away. For me, Santa does encourage me and motivate me to joy and cheer. Our celebrations that include Santa have not disrupted my spiritual relationship with Christ. But if it does disrupt yours, then leave behind the jolly fat man. Jesus is much more important than any man-made creation.Katie Gaffnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07389603858545280233noreply@blogger.com