Is There Room for Santa at Our Table Too?

This is a question I have been mulling around for a while.  With the Christmas season being thrust upon us earlier and earlier, and now with having children, I really take this question seriously.  Let me back up...

I grew up in a WONDERFUL family.  The Christmas holidays were special.  (Every holiday was really.)  But Christmas held some sort of magic that the others didn't.  I always knew that this was the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I knew the impact of His birth.  It was blissfully sweet.

However, Santa was present in our family traditions as well.  We did the whole milk and cookie thing.  Elvis belted out about his "Blue Christmas" and I knew all the words to "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" by age three.  We decorated our tree with themed color selections.  Stockings were filled with goodies.  When I woke up on Christmas morning, there were always packages left by him.  Even as I got older and would question the "realness" of Santa, my mom held fast that it's the spirit inside you that make Santa real.

Fast forward to now.  I'm the mother of twin three year olds.  I am a Christian.  I am teaching my children DAILY about the love of Jesus.  And I feel like I'm a horrible mom according to other Christians if we celebrate Santa as a part of our Christmas traditions.  Yes, I feel SO judged.

Is Jesus there?  Absolutely!  We have talked and read nonstop about His birth.  We have discussed how this holiday is NOT just about the "I wants".  Jesus is the focus for us.

However, our Christmas is filled with more.  It is filled with stockings, trees, lights, cookies, carols, packages, joy, laughter, magic, and wonder.  Oh, and Santa.  Yes.  Santa. 

We do NOT worship Santa.  We do NOT focus on gift giving and getting.  We DO focus on Jesus and fun family traditions and special connections we can create with the girls.  Everything is celebrated!  From making a paper chain to count down the days until "Happy Birthday, Jesus", to carefully placing ornaments on our tree.  Christmas music is played in our Jeep and in our home.  Christmas TV specials from long ago are watched and treasured.  New traditions are meshing with old family favorites and friends, it just makes my heart swell.

Oh, how I love this time of the year.  I feel hopeful for our future.  It seems Pollyanna, but it's me.  I totally get wrapped up in the glitter and garland.  I know it's because I have such special memories of this time of year with my family, and I want that for my girls as well.  And I refuse to feel guilty about it. 

This is just on my heart because it's out there.  It's in Blogland.  The discussions, the debates, the worry if we are messing our kids up by celebrating Santa AND Jesus, or NOT celebrating one or the other.  I just had to throw my two cents in.  I LOVE Jesus.  Love Him.  And serve Him.  And I will forever and always strive to keep Him first in my life (I AM human...I slip up occasionally.)  But at our house, we'll save a spot for Santa too.  That jolly old guy just wants to spread some joy and eat some good cookies (and chocolate milk according to Laney).  He won't sit at the head of our table, but he's got a seat down the line.

Oh, and while I'm on a rant...I totally DO NOT get those people who say, "Jesus is the reason for the season!"  HELLO, Jesus is the reason for EVERY season!

Merry Christmas, family!