Santa: The Distraction

In this season, there are two people whom you hear the most about: Santa and Baby Jesus. Now, I'm glad that Jesus can be a part of this holiday, overjoyed in fact, but the main story of Christmas is His birth. That's it. People hear of this little baby that eventually became who knows what, but they don't hear anything about His Life, His Death, His Resurrection! People are missing out on the important parts! The real facts about who Jesus was and is.
This terrible Santa figure which people have insisted on forcing into children's minds to manipulate them into being good is the replacement for a father figure, for a God figure. He is the man whose lap children sit upon. They feel this mall-employee's warmth and "love" and they feel comforted. It's that protection that they want. He knows them for who they really are, and he loves them anyway. He listens to them and makes them feel like things will be alright. He wants them to be good, and they want to please him. Sound familiar?
During Jesus' life, he told the children to come to Him, sit on His lap, and feel His love. Santa is a poor contemporary replacement for something real. Sure, he is a fun game we play as children, but there is point where he overtakes the truth. He becomes a child's Jesus. Extreme. I know. A stretch? maybe.
But maybe not.
Throughout this Christmas season, let's try to look past the commercial sides of Christmas, even that momentary nativity scene, into Jesus' life. Roll out the big picture, Discover the real Christmas season, and Thank the Lord for his Gift to us all!

-abigail