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.
