Two Different Christmases

There were so many wonderful Christmas books that I read to my children.
A Christmas Carol and How the Grinch Stole Christmas were perennial favorites.
The Gift of the Magi, with the selling of his watch and her long locks of hair was read.
Another favorite was The Polar Express written in 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg.

The story is about a boy who has very logical questions about the existence of Santa Claus.
He is startled from sleep by the sound of a train whistle.
The train, which is in his front yard, is headed to the North Pole.
Reluctant at first, he boards the train knowing that his questions will finally be answered.

The book tells the magical story of his journey and his first meeting with Santa Claus.
Santa always picks one child to whom he gives the first gift of Christmas.
This young boy was chosen and quietly asks for a bell from Santa’s sleigh.
Santa gives him the bell and he proudly puts it in his bathrobe pocket.

After all the children get on the train to head home, they asked to see the bell.
The young boy realizes his bell is gone; there was a hole in his bathrobe pocket.
He has lost the bell from Santa’s sleigh.
Now he will never be able to show the bell to others and prove that Santa is real.

It is a wonderful story about the wonder of childhood.
When reading the book to children there is an audible gasp when the bell is lost.
Children can relate to the sadness the boy must have felt.
They know how they would feel under the same circumstances.

Van Allsburg resolves the story beautifully.
After opening all of their presents on Christmas morning, one more box is under the tree.
When the young boy opens the box, he finds the bell from Santa’s sleigh.
Fix that hole in your pocket. Signed, “Mr. C.”

The young boy shook the bell.

It made the most wonderful sound my sister and I had ever heard. But my mother said, “Oh, that’s too bad.” “Yes,” said my father, “it’s broken.” When I’d shaken the bell, my parents had not heard a sound. At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe. (Taken from The Polar Express)

The wonder of childhood.
Believing in the unbelievable.
Why should something so innocent cause so much controversy?
Are there really two different Christmases?

Especially among Christians, the choice seems to be an either/or dilemma.
Celebrating Christmas has two possible areas of focus.
Do we celebrate Jesus or do we celebrate Santa?
To celebrate the latter is seen as toying with the world.

Especially in churches, the children that believe in Santa seem to be dwindling.
Santa is looked down upon as if your holiday has become something pagan.
Families often feel judged if they include Santa or choose to use an Elf on the Shelf.
Disdain seems to be the order of the day.

There seems to be two camps.
There is pressure to be in one camp or the other.
Why?
Does childlike wonderment diminish the Truth of the Christ Child?

Often, books like The Polar Express open up conversations in families.
The concept of belief is the main point of the story.
Wise parents can talk about belief in the One who came to save us.
Wise parents can talk about the FIRST GIFT of Christmas that can never be lost.

Children’s literature is filled with stories of fantasy.
Magical stories filled with themes of good and evil, fallen-ness and redemption.
There are spiritual themes that can be pointed out.
However, there is something to be said for just enjoying the story as it is written.

Children are little for such a short time.
Allow them to experience the wonder.
Allow them to hear the unbelievable stories.
Allow them to hear the Unbelievable Story of the God who became man.

There is nothing wrong with playful, joy this time of year.
I imagine Jesus having the most wonderful belly laugh!
He enjoyed wedding feasts and dinner with friends and probably loved to laugh.
Joy must permeate our lives and our homes always especially this time of year.

Joy in these simple things does not mask the presence of Jesus in our lives and homes.
Only WE can do that.
Only WE can be intentional to push Him aside for the sake of a lesser thing.
Only WE can elevate the secular celebration above the spiritual.

The Truth of God’s Word defends itself.
That Truth is not going to be destroyed by childhood wonder.
It is up to parents to have the focus on Jesus as the Reason for the season.
Beauty and wonder in the things of childhood will never eclipse the Wonder of Jesus.

We let things like this divide us.
We need to help each other grow in the Lord.
We need to believe and know that God’s Word will stand forever.
God gifted men and women to write stories of wonder, which inevitably point to Him.

Jesus Himself was the Master Storyteller.
Jesus used everyday examples to teach Kingdom Truth.
When we tell stories, we are modeling Him.
Our heart is the issue in this debate.

No one is worshiping the Elf on the Shelf.
No one is bowing down to the Christmas tree.
No one is praying to Santa.
No one is reading fictional Christmas stories as Truth.

The focus must be on Jesus at Christmas and always.
However, childhood wonder can and should be enjoyed by us all.
The Giver of all good gifts has put that wonder in us.
Simple childlike wonder about a story and about a Story.

It is not either / or.
We have to extend grace to each other.
Even as you sit and read about Scrooge, you will find that the story is always about Him.
Jesus is there on every page.

Jesus is always there.

…Christ is all, and is in all. (Colossians 3:11)