My first trip to Disneyland was when we had our first son Christopher. We
went with his best friend and cousin Adam, and it was the first time for the
three of us. Christopher immediately took to the people dressed as Disney
characters, from Mickey to Minnie to Winnie the Pooh and others. He loved
them! Then there was Adam, who even though the same age, was afraid of them.
Which I find is common, or so I am told. How can anyone be afraid of those they
read about and love? Yet they do, and it is not unusual. Now I might consider
a six foot tall Goofy a bit scary, but Chip and Dale? Snow White? Who’s afraid
of the big, bad wolf? Ironically this is from the two that love Godzilla, and
when he died in one of his movies, they cried. Where was the King of the
Monsters when you needed him? Disneyland is a long way from Tokyo....
But the closest I came to Disney characters was when working for Sears, who
used Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger,too, along with Eeyore to sell their kids
clothes. Shirley ran the department, and one weekend the promotion was seeing
Winnie the Pooh live! But at the last minute, the guy who was to play Winnie
backed out, and she came to us, her first mistake, for help. Which came in the
form of Pete, who was nuts. And funny. Depending upon which end of his
irreverence you were on. Second mistake. So Pete put on the Winnie costume with
a net so he could look out through the honey jar. It fit him perfectly, and the
sticks he had for his arms were the next mistake. And the show was to
start...
Pete was let loose on the sales floor on a busy Saturday afternoon.
Crowded with kids and their mothers, he bounced aroound, kids hugging him,
making a growling, purring noise, the kids loved. Many pictures of Pete/Winnie
were taken, and he was bouncing around loving it. And everyone was having fun,
until Pete started using the sticks for arms to lift skirts, or bump into others
on purpose. He was warned once, which only encouraged him even more, until one
mom, who saw no fun in it, turned around and punched him in the honey jar!
Putting a huge dent in it, and knocking him backwards, and sending poor Winnie
onto a table full of clothes. Winnie was down, but not out! And was escorted
off the floor by security, his honey jar dented, and Shirley was called. And
disciplined for Pete’s/Winnie’s actions. They told her she should have known
better, what else did she expect of him? And the legend lives on...Pete is a
well respected golf pro today. Wonder if Winnie’s arms influenced his game?
And so it goes, and every Christmas stores are filled with Santas. With
parent standing in long, tortuous lines to have their adorable loved one see
him. With results often unpredictable, from the grouchy Santa on “A Christmas
Story,” to Kramer playing an elf, to well meaning neighbors trying to influence
little kids. But how many remember how terrifying it was the first trip to
Santa’s lap? When you froze up, didn’t want to, and started to cry? All
dressed up in three layers of clothes, your parents now upset and tired, and
hustling you off to the car with wet cheeks, and crying. Swearing never to do
it again, until next year came around and you promised to be good. Just in
case. Telling you more stories about Santa Claus, and hoping you will be nice.
Hoping their list to be different than the one Santa employs. He guesses, they
know. And I always wondered the first time we took our kids to see Santa, who
was really under the fake beard? Did Pete have connections in the Santa union
via his Winnie days? Could ho, ho, ho turn out to be who, who, who.....maybe
there is more to it than we know about kids and sitting on Santa’s lap. What do
they know we don’t?
Being the Christmas season, we find Santa and Jesus doing battle for your
attention. The most wonderful time of the year is not about long lines of
shoppers. Of Santa or Black Fridays. It is all about Jesus, for without him
with have no Christ, and therefore no Christmas. What is a parent to do? Now I
was young when I figured out the Santa deal, but cool enough to go along with
it. Hey, I like the presents as much as anyone, I can dig the concept of
getting and giving. So can God, so he sent his only begotten, unique son to
save us. To be the way back to him, out of our sin. And unlike kids being
afraid of Santa, again they can go with the gift getting concept, but are
somehow afraid of him, the Bible tells us kids flocked to Jesus. They loved
him, despite not passing out any gifts. It seems kids can tell character better
than us, Shirley choosing Pete for Winnie a good example, and they can tell a
fake from the real thing. And Jesus is real, Santa is a made up character. Yet
many see Santa every year, many Santas actually, but fail to see Jesus in
Christmas. And this year will be no different, but you can change that. Since
Jesus is the reason for the season this year, give each other gifts in his
name. Don’t go religious on them, but tell the story of his birth in a manger.
In a barn, with animals and people. How a star led them, rather than Star
Wars. How three wise men later came to visit, bringing gifts, and that is why
we give gifts, in honor of Jesus. How Christmas started. Then let them know
how Jesus gives the best gift, forgiveness, even Santa cannot do that. And how
he loves them, he forgives, no naughty or nice on his list, only good little
boys and girls of all ages who are forgiven. And ask if they would like to be
forgiven? No one ever asked Pete that day? Maybe when kids are afraid of Santa
it is because they can see the truth, and want it. And you now have the answer,
it’s Jesus! From the manger to candy canes, explain it simply, so they get it.
Now do you?
No lines to see Jesus, and he is available all year. And gives all year
too. No hype, just truth. And love. There will come a time when they don’t
believe in Santa any longer, but will keep the concept at Christmas time. Let
them know about Jesus, more than a concept, let him be revealed in your life
every day for your kids to see. Have fun at Christmas, and let me leave you
with a quiz. A Christmas quiz about my favorite Christmas song, Silent Night.
Actually two questions. First, who are the round yon virgin, mother, and
child? The only place you ever hear of this trinity? And even more important,
what is a round, yon virgin? Mother and child I can get, but what is a round,
yon virgin?
Yet we are left Winnie the Pooh, and Santa, too. Characters to entertain
and sell goods. But when you have Jesus, you have the real thing. And nothing
else matters. This year keep the main thing the main thing, Jesus. And let all
other things be added on. Give gifts, share love, and enjoy the peace only God
can give through is son. Make Christmas day a daily event sharing him with
others. Only 13 days left until Christmas, with only 12 shopping days left. We
don’t know when Jesus will return....don’t miss the real Christmas in heaven.
And if a huge Winnie the Pooh should cross your path....who just happens to be
round and...mother and child take beware! Merry Christmas to all! Who, who,
who! See it really is all about Jesus!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com