Ok, I don't know if it is too much caffeine or just a genuine frustration. Lately, I have been wrestling with the whole concept that bunnies and chocolate Easter eggs are bad. I also have wondered if Santa and stockings are from the devil. I say no and here is why:
1. Kids mark time by their senses. They remember the cute dresses they wore, the eggs they uncovered in the yard, the presents they unwrapped. They remember the smell of spring at Easter or the Christmas trees and the roaring fireplace at Christmas. This is what they remember. Some of my best memories are those very things.
2. Kids need to be kids. The fun of running around retrieving prizes in the yard is awesome!
3. Kids can tag those experiences above to the story of Jesus. A fun loving Jesus who laughs with them. They don't do this by taking all the fun above and labeling it as "bad". It is up to the parent to share Jesus and not just on these holidays. ALL THE TIME!
Another thing that burns me is we take these fun activities from little children and think we are starting a healthy foundation for our children.
BUT...... Then so many churches have outreaches on Halloween and defend them to their dying day as outreach. There is no significance of this day to a Christian. NONE and then we take them out with gobblins, witches and Freddy Kruger and call it "outreach". Hmmm. When my girls were 6 and 8 they didn't want to go anymore because it was scary. They just wanted candy! So we gave them candy.
Now what does this day relate to: Sacrifices, the occult. But what a great outreach day!
Fast forward to our teen age students. I have heard people say teens should go to parties_ to do outreach...... Hang with the underage drinkers because....no your not going to be tempted. Watch any and every movie you want..... But for the small children.....no bunnies and no santa.... it is not Christian.
Get my issue here?
Jesus doesn't care about the bows, bunnies and Santa's as long as while the little children are having fun.....we let Him walk with us.
If as an adult, we are believing bunnies and Santa ARE the holiday....that is on us.
And do you know why it makes me most angry?..... I fell for this thinking! sorta. I happen to like the bunnies, baskets and bows. I happen to like the "gifts" at holidays. I happen to love having Jesus laughing with us. I remember my precious daughters in their beautiful dresses anticipating the holiday. I remember their faces as they opened the gifts and discovered their Easter baskets. I also remember my heart being touched by the Gospel in each of these occasions. I remember sitting them on my lap and telling them about the Jesus who was with them everyday and loved them dearly.
We really have to stop stealing joy from our small children and grow up as adults. We, as adults, need to take on the heavy stuff and prepare them as they grow for what is expected as they grow. I have yet to see a cult form worshipping Santa nor the Easter Bunny but satan.....yes.
Ahh now I feel better.
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