Dear Santa

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We are familiar with the American tradition of writing letters to Santa, telling him what we want for Christmas.  As the legend goes, “He’s making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who’s been naughty or nice…”.  If you’re good, Santa is supposed to bring you lots of presents.  If you’re bad, then you don’t get as many – or you may even get coal in your stocking!  As children, we are reminded to be good in the month of December – with our parents using Santa as a warning. 

As I was browsing the tables at my favorite craft fair, I saw a plaque with this stenciled message: “Dear Santa…..I can explain”.  I chuckled out loud as I imagined parts of a letter that might follow this greeting… 

“Um, Santa…About the vase incident… it wasn’t my fault!  You see, it was Dad’s fault – he’s the one who started throwing balls in the house…” 

“And Santa, I’ve tried, really tried to be nice to my sister, but do you know how hard that is?  If she wasn’t so selfish and wasn’t such a know-it-all, I’d have been a lot nicer...” 

As I chuckled over the plaque, I thought about how many times I use the same reasoning with God.  I start praying and then lapse into “Um God…I can explain”.  I rationalize all my imperfections (I wouldn’t have been snappy with the phone clerk if she hadn’t been so incompetent…I know I should’ve offered to help my friend who is having a tough time, but I’m really busy!…I know I should be more patient with my son, but he is in to everything and takes so much energy!…).  It’s as if I think that the better I am, the more God will like me.  Am I afraid God will just stop talking to me and leave me a lump of coal? 

Instead, I should just pray “God, I’m sorry!  I can’t explain it.  Thank you for loving me just the way I am.  Please help me to be more like you.”  When I pray that way, I start thinking less about rationalizing, and more about changing my heart.  I think less about myself and more about God. 

The true gift of Christmas doesn’t come from Santa, it is the baby Jesus come down from Heaven.  It doesn’t matter how good I am, or how bad I am - the gift is the same, and it is for everyone on earth – we don’t have any “explaining” to do.  God has a list, and ALL our names are on it.  Isn’t that Good News? 

Grace & Peace,

Leah

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.  Saving is all his idea, and all his work.  All we do is trust him enough to let him do it.  It’s God’s gift from start to finish!
Ephesians 2:4-7    (The Message)

To respond to this message, please direct your email to: lsmith@ecreekside.com. 

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