It was in all honesty very innocent, she looked me right in the eye and point blank asked the questions that many parents regret and others take pride in having creative responses. I wasn't ready.
"Is Santa real?"
It was during supper so I bought a few seconds with some embellished chewing while I thought, if I lie - it makes me dishonest, but she can experience the magical time of Christmas. If I tell the truth then no one can accuse me of lying.
The room stood still,
The quiet was deafening.
We never really told them that Santa flew around the world delivering presents to all the good girls and boys. That would have them believing that before they came to America they weren't worthy of presents.
In Ethiopia Christmas is a holy day. A day to dress in your (or your neighbor's) finest clothes and spend the day in church. There is a dinner; family and neighbors share a goat if they can afford it or chicken. If there are any presents it's a gift of clothes - for church, usually traditional white.
So what was my response? I shook my head confidently and said, "no".
Her eyes widened. "WHAT? Then why does everybody believe in Santa?"
Me: People like to pretend that there's a magic in Christmas -
Her: Then who buys all those presents for everybody? GOD?
Oh I could just leave it at that - she totally believes that God provides EVERYTHING! Isn't she so precious?
I told her God provides us with what we need, He knows everything. But the stuff you get from Christmas is from people..... (I didn't go into who buys it, and that it's a marketing scheme to boosts the economy or that things might be a little sparse b/c we're bringing home a brother - no she might chose the toys over the brother)
Her big brother was quiet - he was watching me, watching and listening to how I answered the questions. Lastly I reminded her that it's ok for her friends to believe in Santa - and that she shouldn't over think things.... she can be a deep thinker!
The truth is the best route - then you don't have to cover up and try to remember any silly lies that don't really matter.....
next post - probably going to be a little Joy to the World played on the violin during Christmas Eve Service.
Until then PEACE and JOY and LOVE during this Holy time of the year!
3 comments:
That is always a hard question. Tyler asked me this year too. The truth is the best and its hard to watch the magic fade too.
This was Mia's year to ask, too. We told her the truth. She was ok with it..as long as there would still be presents there if she DIDN'T believe. ;-)
I've never told mine he was either. Sometimes I just didn't answer. They're smart though and didn't really believe even when I didn't say anything.
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