Do You Believe?

I’ve realized people, even adults, desire something magical that they can at least pretend to believe in, whether they know it or not.

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We recently returned from a Disney vacation, and you could see every parents’ desire to create wonder, joy, and memories for their little ones everywhere you looked. The girls are dressed as princesses, waiting in long lines to meet and greet with Queen Elsa and Cinderella for a few treasurable moments.

The disappointment comes when, as my five-year-old Laurelle realized, Fancy Nancy doesn’t talk to you, her costume being a huge painted replica head with skin-colored stockings covering her arms and legs. She looks like the Disney Junior and book character that we have enjoyed and come to know; however, the face-to-face encounter is cute yet limited. She is an invented, fantasy character, something that all little girls will grow up and one day come to terms with (though that childlike whimsical belief is nevertheless refreshing).

At Christmastime Sinterklaas or “Santa” has taken center stage. To be correct, Saint Nicholas was a historical figure born in 270 A.D. in Patara, Turkey. He was a person who lived, became an orphan, inherited everything from his parents as an only child, and gave generously. He was persecuted, imprisoned, and tortured for his faith for seven years, and was finally released. Saint Nicholas, as all humans, was made in the image of God, and his faith and kindness towards others, especially the poor, is to be admired. A downfall is when we try to create a false sense of idealism and “magic” from his life. We never told our kids that Santa was still alive and flying around on Christmas night for two main reasons:

1. It would be lying to them.

2. It would distract from why we as Christians celebrate Christmas to begin with.

In many European countries December 6 was and still is St. Nicholas Day, which keeps his celebration separate from the Christian’s celebration of Jesus’ birth. Many children in Europe put out their shoes December 5th at night and awake the next morning with goodies like chocolates and small toys. We started this tradition with our children as well, and they enjoy it. Unfortunately, the merging of both celebrations happened in the United States and in other places over time. No matter what your stance here, I think it’s important to be clear that Jesus IS enough, and no magical characters or additions to HIS birthday celebration are required.

I discovered more profoundly the “magic” behind Christmas as an adult, raising my own children. I remember when my oldest son Luke was three, my younger son only a year old; I read them the “Christmas story” every day, we sang carols, and then I took Luke to a “Living Nativity” walking tour at a local church. That experience was life-changing for both of us: we saw before our very eyes Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus called Immanuel (which means “God with us”). As we entered Bethlehem and saw the humble stable, we were invited to go near and see Our Savior, Our King, The Precious Lamb of God. My little Luke was awestruck and ran up without hesitation to be the closest one to baby Jesus, and I followed suite with tears a flowing. It hit me hard: HERE is THE ONE who came, letting us humans hold and care for Him. For perhaps the first time I allowed myself to contemplate my Jesus in this helpless, sacrificial way, and I was overcome by awe and appreciation for this unfathomable “God with skin on” baby miracle. Christmas took on a new depth in my heart and life that year; times of reflection are crucial every Christmas season.

The best part is that each Christmas I don’t need to spice up the season with legends to make it more meaningful or magical. Jesus WAS and IS enough for us to ponder.

Here are a few practical ideas to remind ourselves and each other that Jesus is the reason for the season:

1.Make a point to read the Christmas story from The Bible throughout the month of December.

2, The 4 Sundays before Christmas practice ADVENT. All you need to do is light one candle the first Sunday, two the second, until you get to the fourth Sunday before Christmas and all 4 candles are lit. Sing Christmas carols after each lighting and read a verse or two from The Bible (you can get advent apps for free on your phone so you don’t have to search for passages to read, it’s all done for you)!

3. Take your kids or family to a living nativity and truly reflect on Jesus coming down as a baby, His great gift of love towards us.

4. Make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas day. My dear sister Brittany has done this for our whole family for a few years now. We sing “Happy Birthday to Jesus” with the kids, reminding them that He always existed before but chose to come down to earth for the first time, to be with us in human form.

The famous book and now movie The Polar Express has captivated children’s hearts and minds for generations. The dilemma is that its basis is on a false premise; so, no matter how “magical” you let yourself feel as a child or as an adult, you ultimately know that believing is simply NOT ENOUGH as the message tries to imply. BELIEF and FAITH are marvelous and life-changing ONLY when placed in what is TRUE. Let us be careful WHERE and in WHOM we place such TRUST.

I love reminding myself of the story of Jesus and His seemingly insignificant birth. He, the King of Kings, came down to poverty and want. He didn’t have an endearing, decorated nursery to welcome Him. The sights and smells he and his family endured that night were quite uncomfortable and repulsive. The beauty of Our Lord, The Bible says, was not in his physical appearance even as He grew. As the prophecy says in Isaiah 53:2, “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Nevertheless, because JESUS is THE TRUTH, HE is the story we can tell today and not worry about getting to a point where belief breaks into fiction and disillusionment. His tale is the most magical, the one that never lies or disappoints, no matter what your age! Love came down, The Truth was born, and BELIEF and TRUST can now be firmly placed and NEVER undone, unlike a childhood fairytale.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the LORD. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the LORD has told us about.” Luke 2:10-15

Do you believe? I pray it’s not just in a temporary magical feeling, but in Christ alone, The God-man miracle. Unlike anything else in life, the more we come to know Him, the MORE profound the awe and wonder! May HE become the center of your celebration both now and in the coming new year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! God bless you, dear ones!