Don't take this in a secular way, but Christmas is so much fun, especially with children around.  I have one who "knows" about Santa Claus and one that is still in the wonder stage where being on the "Good List" is still a motivator.  But recently, Mara, the four year old, was trying to figure out the whole Jesus/Santa equation.  She knows Santa is not Jesus and vice versa, but she was not sure how the two went together.  Many of us adults are not either, or at least we grasp for ways to explain to little minds.  I won't bore you with the actual story of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, but suffice to say, he is the historical basis for Good Ol' Saint Nic, Father Christmas, or Santa. Google it for yourself.

Now Mara was sorting through all  this and wondered how Christmas is about Jesus' birth, but she's told to be sweet so she will be on Santa's Good List.  Kelly and I say it often from October to Dec 24th, "Be sweet so you will be on Santa's Good List." Well, MAra questioned us, asking, "But Jesus wants us to be good."  Hmnn.  She's right.  The only way I could explain it is that Santa works for Jesus, as he, in fact, did.  Jesus is the one who wants is to be good and died so that we can be on God's Good List.  All this to say, we don't have to go overboard and be super spiritual, pushing Santa out of Christmas so we can keep Christ in Christmas.  Just keep things in perspective.  The real Santa was a servant of Jesus who is as "Silent Night" sings, "Lord at thy birth.  Jesus...Lord at thy birth."  Even Lord of Santa.  Merry Christmas!  Ho.  Ho.  Ho.