Grudge Match...

There was a short video story on MSNBC today about a young boy who's letter to Santa was marked "Return to Sender" by the Post Office. The letter was returned and the boy's Mother and Grandmother had a cow. Turns out the other two brothers' letters made it through, and Santa sent them one in return. It then dawned on me the lengths we go to continue the dumbest lie ever told. Ole' St. Nick. Think about it, to goes so far that every year, a government organization goes to great lengths to fabricate the idea of sending letters to the guy. Obviously, billions of kids + .39 stamps = xmas bonuses.

I've made it known to my wife that I don't like the idea of telling our son about Santa when he gets to that age (he's still a baby). Why? One, as a Christian, I think the idea of Santa hurts the true meaning of Christmas. I'm not even getting into all the "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" schtick (as I'm guessing even those people still do the Santa thing). But the point is, in a kid's mind, Jesus (especially a baby version) will NEVER be able to compete with Santa. . Think about which is more compelling, The story of a baby born in a barn 2,000 years ago, who came to give you eternal life, that you've never had physical contact with (explain THAT to a 5 year old), or the guy who shows up at the mall every year, asks you want you want for Christmas, has his elves in the north pole make it for you, and then on Christmas Eve flies around the world landing on your roof with his sleigh pulled my magic reindeer, one who's nose glows red so they can see in the snow, jumps down the chimney to give you a bright shiny Playstation 3? Jesus never had a chance against this guy. It was a sucker punch from the get-go. Where's the war on Christmas taking place? Well nowhere really, it's all BS, but a mild skirmish is happening, and we brought it on ourselves. But everyone believes that their kids "get it" and "understand", thanks to their brief, obligatory "And remember, Timmy, toys are fun but really, Christmas is about giving like Jesus did." Kids don't buy it. They are too busy HotWheeling around with their new iPod.

I guess I just don't understand where it all came from. Why do we dumb down, augment, and amend Christian holidays with Fat Men, and Giant Egg Laying Rabbits? Is Jesus not enough? Can he not hold an 8 year olds attention. Maybe we just suck as parents at telling his Story.