Yes!! There is a Santa Claus!!!

Yes!! There is a Santa Claus!!!

I'm not going to reference a particular Disney movie today. I'm just sharing what is on my heart at this season.

Christmas is a time of year when people are talking about believing. “Do you believe in Santa?” is an oft repeated phrase at this time. Kids are asked by other kids and questioning adults. Some kids ask so they can “spoil the fun” of a younger child. Adults sometimes are shocked to find a 9-10 year old that still believes.

Many adults think it is unwise for children to believe in Santa. Non-Christian and Christian adults often think that it leads to a pie in the sky unreal view of the world. “Better to know the truth early that the world will do you no favors.” Some Christian parents also believe it is wrong to teach a child to believe in Santa. “Santa is a symbol of greed and commercialism! Santa detracts from the true story of Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth.”

While I do believe children need to realize that good things come by hard work and you will never get everything you ask for or want, I still believe the belief that there is kindness and generosity in the world outweighs the negative impact if handled correctly. Santa is a symbol and life lesson of kindness and generosity.

The commercial persona of Santa can detract from reason we should celebrate Christmas, Christ’s birth – God’s gift of LOVE to us. I still believe the person of St. Nick (Santa Claus) is a powerful tool to show the strength of God’s love and how we can show God’s love to others.

Around 300 AD there was a young man by the name of Nicolaus. Nicolaus was the only child of a rich merchant. He lived in Myra, modern Turkey. When Nicolaus was a young man his parents died. He spent many hours at his local church. The priest of the church knew there was something special about Nicolaus and prayed. After a time the priest felt lead of God to ask Nicolaus to become a priest. Nicolaus studied and became a priest.

Years went by, Nicolaus knew he could not keep his money because priests swore a vow of poverty. Nicolaus decided he would use his money to help people he found in need. There was a family in the parish that had 3 young girls. The eldest girl was about to become of age to marry. Back then if a young lady did not have a dowry to give she did not have a good chance of getting married. If she did not marry she was left to be a prostitute, a beggar or a house maid. None of these lives were easy or one that is desired.

When the eldest girl of the family came of age she found a bag of gold coins in her room near her bed! Nicolaus, not wanting it to be known he gave the gift had tossed the bag of coins in through a window during the night. The father wondered who the benefactor was and never suspected their local priest!

The second daughter reached the age to get married shortly after the first. This time the father was watching to see if the unknown “savior” would come again to help this daughter as well. Nicolaus saw him waiting and quietly went around and climbed up on the roof top and dropped the bag of coins down the chimney where they landed in a pair of socks hanging next to the fire drying! The socks belonged to the second daughter! She was saved as well!

When the third daughter came of age the father was determined to find out who was blessing his family so he could thank them. He set traps and waited into the night. He was rewarded when he caught Nicolaus trying to leave his final gift. Nicolaus swore father to secrecy, not wanting praise but to bless this poor family. The father relented and agreed not telling a soul about where the gifts came from.

Years later Nicolaus became the Bishop of Myra. This fact is documented in the logs of the Council of Nicea (around 325 AD). Bishop Nicolaus of Myra was there defending the faith and arguing the deity of Christ! At one point other Bishops did not believe in the deity of Christ and for other personal reasons wished to deny it. Nicolaus went to physical blows to defend the faith and deity of Christ! He won!

Every year he was a priest, at Christmas time Nicolaus would open the doors to his church and his funds. He would provide gifts for the poor who came to the church. He did this in the name of Jesus Christ so the poor would know Christ loves them. When Nicolaus died the father of the girls remembered his kind gifts. He had truly never forgotten them. The father started leaving small gifts for others less fortunate then himself. He would leave them with a note saying they were from Saint Nicolaus.

Over the years the legend grew and spread. People in neighboring countries heard the story of Saint Nicolaus the gift giver, and in turn they left gifts in his name. As legend spread the name changed to the Dutch, Sinterklaas and when he came to the United States his name changed again to Santa Claus.

There is much more to Saint Nicolaus’ story but these are the key points. This counters both arguments about Santa Claus being encouraged and believed in. For those that say there is no kindness in the world and get tough young I say look at the kindness of a real man, Nicolaus. He cared for others and took care of the poor and those in need and inspired others to do the same.

For those that say he is not a good example for Christian children I say you are wrong! Nicolaus defended the faith, he protected those in need (the young girls) and took care of the poor. Saint Nicolaus is a good example for all of us to strive to follow. He shows us how to show God’s love to others by actions.

Here are some verses to think about:

Matthew 5:6

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not grow weary of doing  good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.