Is Santa Real?

First let me say that I have always told my son that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  We sing happy birthday to Jesus and even make him a cake.  But, when my son was young, I also told him about Santa. I let him believe in someone who was not real and who could not return his love or admiration.

When my son asked me about the reality of Santa the first time, he was nine years old. (I had thought I was pretty lucky to have dodged that question for so long).  I told him that if he believed in Santa, then Santa would surely bring him a gift.  I was off the hook for that year. He still believed. The next year he asked me again. Kids were saying stuff in school and I knew (and dreaded) having to burst that bubble. He really wanted to know, so I had to tell him the truth.  I had never thought I was lying to him before and he was always so excited about Santa. And who wouldn’t be? Santa brings them gifts and money, the best toys and clothes.  But he wanted the truth.  And it hit me that I had been lying to him…and there is nothing I hate as much as a lie, just ask anyone who knows me.  I braced myself for the tears, but I knew I had to do it.  So I took a deep breath and began. 

My son sat there listening to every word, listening to me explain that Santa was an imaginary person that people made up.  He had seen all the cartoons and knew the stories, but I could see the wheels turning.  After I had told him that I was really his Santa, I waited. Then, all of a sudden, he exclaimed, "Do you mean that all those gifts that said they were from Santa, were really from you?" I said yes.  I could see that he was thinking back and remembering every Christmas and the gifts that said they were from Santa. Then he said something I will never forget..."So…YOU loved me SO much you gave me all those presents?"  I said yes.  I honestly thought their would be tears, a hurt look or something to let me know that I had taken something huge away from him by telling him the truth.  Instead, I got the biggest hug ever!  I will never forget it! 

But the wheels were still turning..."and the Easter Bunny, is he fake too?? And the tooth fairy??”  I said yes. He was okay. I think he took it better than I did.  (I mean we really went all out, making bunny feet in powder, near sightings of the Easter Bunny, etc.) When I told him I had saved his teeth, he was very excited! He wanted to see them! No hurt feelings, no tears, no claiming that I had lied.  Just love, and it was all for me.

Now, here's the thing...

WHY would we ever invent people or stories to continue an untruth about some imaginary person? We give him credit for bringing gifts and money to the ones we love more than anyone else in the world? WHY would we let our children love someone who is not real, instead of letting them love us?  WHY would we let our babies think that there is a person out there who brings the biggest or best gift to them, instead of the person they look to for everything they need??  WHY would we let a lie get their love and thanks, instead of us, the ones who ALWAYS have their best interests in mind? And aren’t we the ones who ALWAYS want their child to have the desires of their own heart…even at such a tender age? Thank God that it wasn’t a traumatic event...for either of us! Thank God that my son knows that I love him more than anyone or anything.  He knows that no one can love him like I love him, except Jesus. (my mom and my sister run very close seconds.)

I can’t believe I waited so long to tell him the truth.  All the love and hugs and kisses that I missed out on because of a myth.  I decided right then and there that if I had more children, I would never perpetrate a lie on them…nor would I do this to my future grandchildren.  And my son, God bless him, has already decided that he will never let his future children believe in Santa.  He will teach them that there is only One who loves them more than their dad, more than their mom and more than their grandmother. He is the One who gave his life for all of us. His name isn’t Santa. It’s Jesus.  And he gives the best gifts of all.

What is Going On With Today's Youth?

First of all let me apologize for the my negative title? And secondly, I usually find one of my photos to go with my writing, but today it is just something quiet and calming.  I started writing this Facebook yesterday and then decided I should probably write on my blog, because I was in a foul mood and writing usually proves to be cathartic and so relieves the frustration.  So I started this yesterday and hopefully I will finish it today. Pray for me people...

As many of you know, I am now attending CCSU in New Britain, CT.  I miss Tunxis so much.  I loved it at Tunxis. I made a lot of friends there. I loved every single professor I had.  Not one bad experience there.  The atmosphere here is so different, I am actually finding it a bit unpleasant.  There seems to be such a negative atmosphere here.  Maybe it has to do with it being the home of the blue devils. Ugh. I truly wouldn't be surprised!

So, yesterday I was in the ladies room (sorry for the image) and I hear two girls come in the rest room.  They are chatting with each other and I can't help but hear what they are saying.  The conversation is about book bags...about how their mothers taught them to cut open the bottom of their book bags and return it to LL Bean for a new book bag every year.  Both of them. They say they do the same thing with North Face (another popular brand for kids).  What the hell are parents teaching their kids??  Can this possibly be for real??

It isn't bad enough that almost every other word I hear,  in the cafe/lounge/hallway, is the F word or GD or some other exclamation in that vernacular, which I find annoying and disrespectful.  It is almost like they feel the need to act like idiots!

It is quite sad to see what the next generation is looking like. I am more and more proud of my son and the Godly man he is becoming!

I have made a couple of acquaintances that on the surface seem to be nice...time will tell.  I hate to sound skeptical, but I have learned to trust what God shows me about individuals I meet.

So far, I think God is showing me what is really going on at this school.  I picked up the school newspaper and the school magazine, thinking that maybe I could write for one of those publications. I had been writing for the school paper at Tunxis and had several articles and a photo published there.

The paper was okay...lots of newspaper articles, but no editorial page and no papers written by people who were not on staff.  The school magazine was horrible.  At first, when reading  the description in front of the magazine, I thought, I could just write for the magazine. I read on.  The very first article uses profanity.  Then, so does the next article.  And it went on and on throughout the magazine...which I eventually tore in half and threw in the trash.  I think I am going to send a copy of this blog to the school newspaper and  the magazine at the school.  I am so angry and disappointed, I am not sure if I can't keep it in.

Maybe God is showing me that this isn't the school for me.  For now, I go to class and get my work done and spend as little time on campus as possible. My time on campus will be spent in class or a quiet corner, away from others, if I can find such a spot.  I will also be doing a major search for my Ipod and headphones to block out the NOISE. Pray for me people....and thanks in advance!

P.S...I have decided the photo I chose actually does apply to this post because so many of the people at this university seem to be in a fog.