magic

A couple weeks ago, in the spirit of the season, we decided to download the movie Fred Claus. Simple enough. Until the eight year old wheels of logic started turning in my son's head, and the interrogation began. "But how does Santa get in here if we don't have a chimney?" "Does he know the code to the alarm?" "How does he fly through the night when it's daytime on the other side of the world?" (That one made my head hurt). But we dutifully lied through our teeth as the questions got to be more and more detailed. "YES! We mailed him the key to the front door, ALRIGHT?!!"

A few days passed, and I guess it had been eating my husband up. Because the next thing I know, he waltzes into the room to casually announce that he has single-handedly informed our children (the youngest is THREE) that Santa Claus is indeed NOT REAL.

Me: "Are you serious?"

Him: "Yep, I was sick of lying to them."

Me: "Well, why don't you just tell them about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. And while you're at it, tell them how babies are made. For good measure, why don't you just pour them a drink?!"

But the damage had been done. Or so we thought. A few more days passed, when my oldest asks my husband, "If Santa's not real, then who always eats all those cookies after we go to bed?"

My husband could see in his eyes how much he desperately wanted Santa to be real. He said, "You know what...I never thought about that. But you're right...the cookies ARE always gone the next morning. Maybe he really IS real afterall!" All three children tuned in. And by the end of the conversation, Santa was alive and well again. And so was the possibility of magic. It made me realize that sometimes it's not important to have all the answers, because so much joy comes from just having the faith to believe.

What do you believe in this Christmas Eve?

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Comments

[Tracy]

Wishing you all a Magical Holiday!!!!

[Bethany]

We're not big on Santa stories at our house, but my husband and I encourage our girls always to believe in *magic*... not too hard around Christmas!

[Sonja]

Awwww... That story made me smile

[Freda]

I wish it snowed here in San Diego. No such luck!

[Liz]

love

[Lucy]

I may not believe in Santa Clause...but I believe in the magic of love. Our son asked his lady to marry him tonight! It doesn't get any more magical than that.

[Dree]

My son is older now but it was so nice when he still believed.

[Amanda]

Not sure if it's too late to comment, but I believed in peace this Christmas Eve...it was a bit elusive as I was up with a crying infant, but I know it's out there...somewhere...looking for a place to rest!

[Jennifer B]

What an awesome and special story! Love it!

Oh, and to have that $100 at blurb..... ;)

[m]

OK I feel really sorry about Page - what a lesson to be given that lying is better than the truth. If I was her my faith in my family would be shaken.There is more at stake here than just Santa or Christmas. There are times when we have to speak the truth when doing so will go against the grain. My parents spoke the truth about Santa and they also spoke the truth about Apartheide and made sure from their actions that my brother and I understood clearly what living in truth meant even if it mean't leaving our country and family behind. I'm grateful for their clear and difficult path - though its taken me decades to realise how unusal and unique they are..

[Tina of Pfeiffer Photos]

Cute story for sure. :0)

When my nieces (now 17 & 18) were very young, they used to bake and decorate a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. They'd load it up with sprinkles and candle and the works. Then they'd gather all of us around and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus with the most sincerity. Absolutely miss those days. That's the answer to what we believe on Christmas. It's not magic but it's always beautiful. :0)

[Bria]

This Christmas I believe in the power of garlic and olive oil, as my 95 year old sicilian great grandmother (Nona) is still up and about and give her children, grand children, and great grandchildren a hard time about not eating their green beans.

[Alice P.]

Santa Rocks. I think our oldest (7.5) is on the brink of not believing. We'll do our best to keep him belieiving for his sister's sake - she's almost 5.

[jeanne]

please oh please, pick me

[Becky Lewis]

I truly do believe that part of the gift for children is to make their own childhood magical.................the grown up world is not nice sometimes and to just have those moments of to fall back into makes for a much healthier soul.

[Leah G]

I feel your pain. No little ones for me, yet, but every holiday season, the Santa story is always something that I think of. I think one the best ways to deal with it was something that my cousin told her son when is was 7 or 8 and had heard rumors in school that Santa was just something that parents make up. She told him that Santa was real if you just believe. Since then, I've always thought that was such a gentle way to break the news to children -- when they are ready to let go, they will.