by Ricky Doc Sauceda
Exodus 20:3
You shall not have other gods beside me.
Isaiah 42:8
I am the Lord, Lord is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
I was always encouraged to believe in Santa while I was growing up...just for the purpose of the holiday spirit. I wanted to wait up with my two older sisters to meet Santa on my 13th birthday. I couldn't wait! (They had always told me I could wait up for Santa when I turned 13 years of age.)
So 1975 rolls around and I am all ready to stay up late and meet Santa. I asked my two older sisters,"When will he be here?" They both just looked at me and then to each other and then back to me and said,"Don't be stupid. There is no such thing as Santa. He's made up."
I was devastated. It was if I was a balloon and all of the air had been released out of me. I was stunned at this news.
So, as a direct result of this event in my life, I told each of my three children that Santa Claus was imaginary. They too were stunned but were young and got over it quickly. It was much better to learn the truth early in their lives.
I did not want them to be teenagers finding out that he was a made up fabrication originating back to the Woolworth Department store of New York City as a gimmick to boost retail sales for the year before it ended. That is how Christmas as America knows it began. Later churches wanted in on the action and incorporated Christmas into their liturgical year.
In truth, we should always focus on Christ each day with our hearts. Not just at Christmas, Easter or on our preference of Sabbath day. We should have a constant faith and love towards our Lord. After all, He has a constant salvation and love for us.
Amen.