Merry Christmas

Posted by Michelle Anderson Dec 22, 2006

Merry Christmas to everyone! It's the happiest time of the year for my family, especially due to a new addition who's finally old enough to get excited about presents, Santa and baby Jesus. But the pope reminded us in his final remarks before Christmas, to resist the lure of a material Christmas. Heck, I'm guilty of it. I'm guilty of wanting to give my child everything but knowing I can't and shouldn't.

At the same time though, I feel a responsibility to instill in him the knowledge of why we celebrate Christmas without pounding him over the head with religion so much that he rebels. Christmas is one of those times that religion in the secular world is celebrated in a material way. I guess I'll try to use the things that confused me as a child as teaching points for my own. It was a real awakening when, as a child, I realized that even though nearly everybody I knew had a tree, not everyone went to church or even really believed the same things I did. I understood why some of our Jewish relatives didn't have a tree and didn't celebrate Christmas. My mom gave me a simple explaination - they are simply a different religion and believe different things than we do. So in a way she turned it into an adventure for me when we would visit. What traditions do they have etc. That didn't seem as confusing as those who had a tree, presents, a manger, but didn't believe in Christmas.

I think it's very difficult to not be sucked in, at least partially, by the lure of materialism. What kinds of things do you do to ensure that your child doesn't feel "neglected" by Santa when all his friends seem to get more and more and MORE? I'd love to read your answers.