Because I don't believe in lying, that's why.

Once upon a time, there lived a lady who didn't believe in lying to her children.  Why?  Because she didn't believe in lying to anyone, and children were someones.  They were the short someones who lived within the walls of her every personal space.  This would never have been questioned if she and her short humans never ventured out of their house.  But since they didn't want to starve or be any more socially awkward than they already were, they ventured out of the house on a regular basis.  Now, the world at large is full of many beautiful sights, sounds, smells, and people.  Especially during the last month of the year, the world at large is full of beautiful sparkling lights and evergreen trees.  And though it is also full of many well meaning and kind humans, a whole lot of them believe in telling their children that Santa Claus is REAL!  Even though they know it is a lie, they believe in telling their children that it's NOT A MADE UP STORY, IT'S REAL, and YOUR PRESENTS DON'T COME FROM MOM AND DAD, THEY COME FROM SANTA!  BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE "GOOD" all year!  AND IF YOU'RE NOT "GOOD" ALL YEAR, THEN YOU'LL ONLY GET COAL FOR CHRISTMAS! 

 (But they're not actually going to give you coal, because no lie perpetuating parent would ever actually give their kid just coal.  And they don't actually keep a standard of what "good" means all year long, or no kid would ever get any presents ever.  So without even realizing it, these parents are showing their children examples of grace, by bestowing gift after gift upon their children on Christmas, lavishing, abundant grace undeserved and unmerited, and not even realizing it.  And Grace comes from God, the Father in Heaven, who is the only one who can truly ever be called "Good."  But I am getting ahead of myself here.) 

  While it's not really my concern what other people choose to tell their children and why, the problem occurs when these same otherwise sane adults expect me to perpetuate the lie to their children for them. 

 "Don't ever tell my children the truth!  And your kid better not ever let on to my kid that it's not true, even though I know and you know and we all know it's not true!  Go ahead and lie with me!"  

    

 Dear All The People,

       No.

I'm not that codependent.

Love, Michelle.

Dear Michelle,

You are the MEANEST MOM on the planet, yes

This is how we see you, and this is why we scowl 

and shake our heads at you when you tell us that 

you don't tell your kids that Santa Claus is real.

Love,

All the people

Because lean in close, I'm about to tell you a secret: Once upon a time, the lady in this story was actually ME!  And the "once upon a time" in this story was ANYTIME I HAD A CHILD!  Which being interpreted means SIX TIMES over the course of SIX EIGHTEEN YEAR PERIODS, many of which overlap, and none of the children have turned eighteen yet, so it's not exactly six times eighteen.

  But whatever!  

I tell my six short personal space invading people that:

Once upon a time, the Savior of the World was born, and He was the long awaited Messiah, the one who would save the people from the curse of sin, and everything evil! 

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.  For as the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  Every warriors boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."
 Isaiah 9:2-7

His mother would have to live with a bad reputation her whole life, since just like today, not everyone believed her story that this child had no earthly biological father because the father of this child was indeed GOD. And then 33 years later, she had to see her baby boy be murdered in the most horrific way possible. But all of this was done because the people needed a Savior.  Do you remember what it was like to be walking in darkness, with heavily clanging chains from which you could never, ever on your best efforts or wishes break free?  After this Son's death and resurrection three days later, all people were able to be reconciled to God in Heaven, because this baby boy was God in human flesh, who wore sin he never committed (mine and yours and all the peoples of all the places of all the times before and now and after, forever) And so this is why we celebrate Christmas!  Our Savior was born, and we no longer have to walk in darkness, if we choose to receive the GIFT of salvation which He gave by dripping out His very last drop of red blood on the cross to cover and cleanse us who would receive Him from our sins.  Now we can live a life where He is the LORD of our lives, and we Take Up Our own Crosses daily, and follow Him as He continually makes us Holy.  But it's not too hard to do, because HIS SPIRIT comes to LIVE INSIDE OF OUR OWN human flesh, and helps us do it, and helps us become more like Christ Jesus, daily!  

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

2 Corinthians 5:21

You guys.  We can now be FREE, and LIGHT, and have eternal peace!  And after this, HEAVEN, TOO!  

Doesn't that thought just make your mouth water?

And your eyes, too?    

Today, a lady asked me, "Oh, so your kids don't get any presents for Christmas?"  

Of course my kids get presents.  Of course.  Three wise men brought the young Jesus presents when they realized who this child really was.  And they had traveled a long and weary distance just to see Him.  And so now, we also give each other presents on the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  He Himself is the best and most amazing present of all time.

  

And because Der Hoy.  Presents are FUN!  EVERYONE likes presents!  So of course my children receive presents.  I don't try to make them tramp down their natural excitement over this part of the celebration of the birth of Christ.  

    Birthday party equals birthday presents.  Fair enough?  Fair enough.

   The Santa Claus idea, it's fun and cute and part of the culture in which we live.  I tell my children this, too.  It's based on a real man named Nicholas who was a devout Christian who lived in the third century B.C.  You can look up the story of his life and what he did to help people.  And if your kids want to get pictures taken with a fat man in a santa suit in the mall, go ahead and do that!  But please.  Don't ask me to lie, don't ask me to perpetuate any of your lies.  

Love, 

The Worst Mom In The World

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor."
Isaiah 61:1-3