Dear Santa

It seems we find ourselves with one non-believer in our house.  Colin asked in the first grade if there was really a Santa because some kid had told him that a "good" Christian didn't believe in Santa since there was no Santa in the Bible.  That conversation included more than just the technical nature of how Santa does his job.  However, Zach has never asked.  He just states that there can be no Santa.  You see reindeer don't fly, there is no such thing as magic and without it there is no way to travel the world in one night and deliver gifts to locked houses without getting arrested.  So, obviously there is no Santa.

Now I would have really liked the chance to sit him down and explain Santa, like I did to Colin.  I said to Colin that Santa is the way we explain God's love to little kids.  You see just like Santa, God gives us a gift we don't deserve.  We get the gift of grace through Jesus' birth.  Santa is based off Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Greek Bishop who was known for his secret gift giving.  We took this idea of giving gifts in secret and modernized it to help children understand God's gift in Jesus.  Colin got that.  So I explained that as long as you believe in the magic of that idea and the spirit of St. Nicholas then Santa will continue to come for you.  But, I have gotten no such chance with Zach.

So, I have resorted to bribing the child.  "If you don't believe in Santa, he doesn't come for you." And, right now Zach is sticking by his guns and saying that is fine, he doesn't believe.  So last night I added to the lie I am telling by having Molly write a letter to Santa to let him know that she still believes so he will at least stop at our house for her.  Colin helped her write it, pleading to Santa to consider stopping at our house because they both still believe.  Zach decided to include a copy of his Christmas list, just in case.  Colin added to Zach's list "doesn't believe" so there would be no confusion as to whose list was included.

Now the question is...what does Santa do? Does he bring Zach coal?  Does he bring Zach a scarlet letter to mark him as a non-believer forever?  Does he do what God would do and give the gift anyway? Does Santa come out of the closet and admit that he is a fraud and just another excuse to spend more money on stuff we don't really need?

Christmas morning could be interesting at our house!