This Christmas

Dear loved ones,

During the hustle and bustle of the year, I am constantly reminded of our parenting choices. Only in eternity will we know the end result of our choices, but we pray that we make the right ones. For example, during Halloween, we chose not to get dressed up this year, but told our kids that some people do get dressed up for Halloween, and that's ok. We have in the past, and might in the future, but this year we didn't.

A couple weeks ago, our oldest son saw a Christmas Tree and commented that it must be Halloween because the tree was decorated. I explained to him that some people put trees up and decorate them. We have before, and we might again, but this year we didn't. We also decided to forgo a large Christmas with all the gifts and the wrapping paper and the hoopla, and do small outings as a family and have family memories and a small gift at each outing instead.

Since we started our family, my husband and I have chosen to tell the boys that Santa isn't real. Not only because of the real meaning of Christmas, but because we decided we just weren't going to do it. We just both came to that conclusion...I am not telling you you should or should not tell your children about Santa, but after reading this, I thought it was a great thought provoking statement, that leads me to thankfulness:


Quoted:
"I'm thankful that I was never told that Santa was real when I was growing up. Every Christmas, I always knew that the presents I received were from people who knew exactly how good or bad I'd been in the past year, and loved me anyway."


Which then reminds me...God loves us no matter how good or bad we are. Our sins are not an issue with God. He sent His SON to live as a man on earth, so HE could DIE for our sins-all of them. He took our sins out of the way, so that we could have eternal life.

All we need to do is believe it! Nothing else is required for salvation! I hope as each of you celebrate the birth of our Saviour-the LORD Jesus Christ, that you also rejoice and remember WHY he came, and WHAT he did for us!


Merry Christmas from our family to yours!