Dear Santa,
I know your mailbox is going to be flooded soon with wish lists of all kinds, so I thought I would get this to you before Thanksgiving. This kind of letter is never easy so I will just put it out there. We are breaking up. And trust me when I say, It's not you, it's me. Well...it's a little bit you.
The orgin of you is the beautiful story of St. Nicolas: a man who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. But now you have become the picture of consumerism that my family is trying so desperately to fight against. The fight is hard and your jolly self doesn't make it easier.
This great blogger, Jen Hatmaker, you know...the one that broke up with you a few years ago, explains it so well here that there is no need to rehash all of that. I say ditto.
"Can we be just friends", you ask. Last year we tried that and it just really didn't work out. Your pull on little children is just so strong. They can't get the real point of Christmas if we keep you around.
In case others who may read this are wondering what that means for us this holiday season, the following are some ways we are doing Christmas differently this year:
*For anyone feeling sorry for my children, no need- there will be plenty of joy and celebration this Christmas and even gifts from their generous and kind grandparents, aunts and uncles- just no Santa.
I know your mailbox is going to be flooded soon with wish lists of all kinds, so I thought I would get this to you before Thanksgiving. This kind of letter is never easy so I will just put it out there. We are breaking up. And trust me when I say, It's not you, it's me. Well...it's a little bit you.
The orgin of you is the beautiful story of St. Nicolas: a man who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. But now you have become the picture of consumerism that my family is trying so desperately to fight against. The fight is hard and your jolly self doesn't make it easier.
This great blogger, Jen Hatmaker, you know...the one that broke up with you a few years ago, explains it so well here that there is no need to rehash all of that. I say ditto.
"Can we be just friends", you ask. Last year we tried that and it just really didn't work out. Your pull on little children is just so strong. They can't get the real point of Christmas if we keep you around.
In case others who may read this are wondering what that means for us this holiday season, the following are some ways we are doing Christmas differently this year:
- We are telling the children that there is no Santa. This won't be very hard as Sarah Bess was so afraid of you the first year she was old enough to 'get it' (age 4) that she cried half the night and has doubted your existence ever since. Gabre is too young to even know the difference. Davis- he is the tough one, but not because he loves You so much. He just loves gifts. We will be gentle.
He can rock some Santa PJ's.
*For anyone feeling sorry for my children, no need- there will be plenty of joy and celebration this Christmas and even gifts from their generous and kind grandparents, aunts and uncles- just no Santa.
- We are making this holiday about family. Our kids can deal with this Santa blow because we are changing it up. We will wake on Christmas morning to clues about a surprise trip that we will take together. So if you are reading this thinking of the money Jimmy and I will save this Christmas, you would be wrong. But it will not be about 'stuff' but about 'us'.
- We are making Christmas about giving and not receiving. We will once again do our advent calendar with an opportunity for our family to serve everyday. In addition we will share the story of St. Nicholas and how he gave. And with the great suggestion in Jen's blog, our children will receive money from us this year that they get to spend on others.
- And last, but certainly not least, we are giving this holiday back to Jesus. And not just the baby Jesus- but the whole Christmas story and what it represents. The story that God's Kingdom of love and peace can reign here on Earth...and the joy that we get glimpses of it everyday. Now that is something to celebrate.
Love,
Hannah and Jimmy
P.S. Santa, we don't want this to be on bad terms. Please know we will remember the good times we had with fondness...
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