I have come to that dreaded cross-road where my eldest child is questioning his belief in Santa…I didn’t know how I wanted to handle this.  I knew I didn’t want to tell a bold faced lie to him…but I didn’t want to watch the magic disappear, either. 

I want my children to look back on our Christmases fondly, remembering the magic and appreciate the love that made that magic.  We have our Shelf Elf, Belfie, it is so fun to watch all of them search for him each morning…E is usually the first to find him.  See, he wants to believe, but is getting old enough to want the whole story.  We have our annual call from Santa…I have to do some manipulating of my contacts and facebook so that when the Big Guy calls, his name, location, and picture all reflect that it is Santa calling.  They love writing out their lists, so they remember what to ask for when the time comes…I love trying to decipher the lists, especially O & L’s…they are in Kindegarten :).

I was a bit shocked to learn that E had told a younger friend that he did not believe in Santa.  I took him aside, and asked him…his eyes got big and glassy…he did not want to admit he was questioning Santa’s existence.  I assured him that it is okay to question everything…but realize there are somethings you have to have faith in.  I told him that Santa is magical…that as long as he believes in the magic of Santa, that Santa will come to see him…that if he stops believing, the only gifts Santa brings is underwear (thanks Kim 😉 )…the rest will just be from Mom & Dad.  That just doesn’t sound fun…so I think for now he still believes in the magic of Santa.  I hope he always does…it is the spirit of happiness that comes with all of the fun of Christmas…the anticipation of sitting in his lap…of will I still get that most wanted item…did I make the ‘Nice List’?

Today’s Secret revealed…we, of course, honor the Reason for this Season…the Gift from God…sending his Son down to lead us to our salvation…I don’t struggle with explaining our faith to the children…though as we waited to see Santa, O & L started asking about Jesus on the cross above the altar…I kept it brief for now, but told him that he died to save us.  I wanted them to focus on the Miracle of his birth.