When my children were little, we always took a few minutes at the beginning of the Christmas season to write a letter to Santa Claus. It was my way of learning what they wanted for Christmas without asking. Many of them started like this:

Dear Santa,
I’ve been really good this year. Please bring me…

And then they would stop, look up at me and begin again.

Dear Santa,
I haven’t been very good this year but I promise to be better next year. I would like to have a __________ for Christmas, but will settle for ________ just in case you feel generous.

I had to smile because with me as their witness, the letters became a written assessment of their behavior, which ultimately determined the gift they thought they deserved. In their childish ways, they were seeking forgiveness.

Now that my children have children of their own, I see this exercise from a different point of view. If I had it to do all over again, this is what I would do.

1. Instead of having my children write a letter to Santa, I would have them make a birthday card for Jesus or write Him a letter and have them place that gift under the tree or next to Jesus in the manger.
2. Before putting my children to bed on Christmas Eve, I would read the scripture of Christ’s birth to them.
3. Along with, or instead of putting out the usual cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve, I would lay out my Bible and tell my children that Santa will want to read Luke 2:1-20 from the Bible about the birth of Jesus; knowing that is exactly what I needed to do before going to bed.
4. I would explain the two celebrations for Christmas day: the first celebration is the birthday of Jesus and the second celebration is one of love shared between family and friends – Jesus being our best Friend and special Guest.
5. Before opening presents, I would say a prayer out loud to invite Jesus to fill each moment of Christmas day and invite each child to share a message to Jesus with the family (perhaps their own letter to Jesus).

Yes, if I had it to do all over again, there would be no doubt in my child’s mind of Whom we would be honoring on Christmas day. Hopefully the focus of the day will not be in the gifts under the tree but on the One who made the day possible.

Peace filled Prayers,
Brenda Bates
www.InHisPath.com

Gift Suggestion: Save all those letters to Jesus and/or Santa and put them in a scrapbook. The year your child becomes a parent, you have a beautiful gift of memories to share with your child.

From Brenda’s Kitchen: Thumbprint Confetti Cookies
1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons holiday confetti (or sprinkles)
Strawberry jelly (can use other flavors too)
White decorating icing (or other colors)

Blend together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually add the flour and fold in the holiday confetti. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours (until chilled).

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Press the center of each cookie with your thumb (hence the name of the cookie) to form the indentation. Bake the cookies at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes, or until lightly browned. Move the cookies from the cookie sheet to wire racks to cool. On a flat surface, press the indentation one more time while the cookies are still warm (not hot) and allow to cool. Spoon jelly into the indentations and decorate with icing. You can also add more confetti or sprinkles to the top. Store in an airtight container. The recipe makes 3-dozen cookies.