Dear Mom,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful letter. I really appreciate your writing.

One statement from your question really stood out: "Is it okay to believe in Santa?" This is really at the heart of all belief, isn't it? As children in Christ we are constantly searching for the meaning to our beliefs. We want the reassurance that our belief is true and within the Lord's will. We know that the gift of faith is just that, a gift from the Lord and as such must be nurtured with great care. Is it okay for a child to believe in something that is totally not true? I struggled with this when the first of my 10 children were young. Certainly there is nothing more beautiful and innocent than a child's belief. They look to us many times to reaffirm their beliefs and many times imitate our beliefs as well. This is the first responsibility of parents to protect innocence and to be bearers of truth. In so doing we are serving to give our children a great witness.

Is it kind to abruptly tell a child that a long-held belief (that we have encouraged and orchestrated) is false? How do we gradually and with care let a child know that a belief is not true? Does the false belief overshadow the true belief? Is it easier to let a child have a fantasy about Santa until they reach a certain age? What age is appropriate to dispel the falsehood? Does this is any way compromise our credibility as bearers of truth? Is the truth then paled by the fantastic and ornate falsehood?

I am sure that you have asked yourself these questions many times. My advice is to ask these questions after prayer. Ask the dear Lord how you should approach this question. What is within His will for you and your children? The reason that I feel that I am unable to give you a definitive answer, is simply this, I do not know the orientation you have presented to your child. I do not know the dynamics in your particular family. I can only tell you what I have done.

When my husband and myself began to struggle with the question of Santa Claus, approximately 18 years ago, we gradually let the belief of Santa fade away. It was not at all difficult and has freed us to celebrate in ways we never would have. The younger 6 of our 10 have not had a belief in Santa Claus. Recently my daughter and her little girl were here for a visit. One of her brothers asked her if she was going to let her daughter believe in Santa. I could see that there was a struggle in her mind, for her husband wants his daughter to have this belief. I reassured my daughter that she and her husband would make the right choice for their little family. And that, to me, is the real issue present.

It is important that the belief in Santa never overshadow the true meaning of Christmas. I do not think that it will in my daughter's family, because she and her husband are loving and devoted Christian parents who have a beautiful faith in the Lord Jesus. I have seen them grow in this faith through the joy of their own daughter's birth. They desire to give her all that is right and true.

Keep praying for the right answer to this question. Keep praying as well for the wisdom that is of the Holy Spirit and He will guide your efforts.

Jesus, we come to You with our great desire to honor the glory and the wonder of Your birth. Your birth into our lives and our hearts is the greatest gift ever given and ever received. Lord, we would also pray that all children are guided to You and the trueness of Your promise. We would also pray that all children receive plenty to eat, warmth, and care this season. Let our prayers on the behalf of children be a constant and ever fixed mark of our devotion to the beauty of childhood and our great longing to remain ever in Your care as Your little ones. Amen.

Sending out a prayer,
Rita Munn